NFL insider adds teeth to new trade rumors involving Pro Bowl WR and the Pittsburgh Steelers
You know it's the offseason when the Pittsburgh Steelers are in the middle of WR trade rumors. Following the bombshell report that the San Francisco 49ers will be seeking a trade for WR Deebo Samuel, the Steelers have become a top candidate in the eyes of many. And according to Adam Schefter of ESPN, that […]
You know it's the offseason when the Pittsburgh Steelers are in the middle of WR trade rumors.
Following the bombshell report that the San Francisco 49ers will be seeking a trade for WR Deebo Samuel, the Steelers have become a top candidate in the eyes of many.
And according to Adam Schefter of ESPN, that might not be so far-fetched…
Deebo Samuel an Option for entire AFC North?
"I think it's hard to pinpoint right now where Deebo would go," said ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter on Monday's episode of the Pat McAfee Show. "I could see him in Pittsburgh, I could see him in Baltimore I could see him in a lot of places. Any of those AFC North teams make sense."
Now if you're wondering why the Steelers are a primary team involved, it's because the team has a history of wanting Deebo Samuel on their roster. They called around the draft last year and were reportedly close to striking a deal for either Brandon Aiyuk or Samuel, but the trade never reached the finish line…
“There was talk that at the draft that Pittsburgh thought they had made a trade,” UNC GM Michael Lombardi said on his GM Shuffle Podcast. “Whether it was for Deebo or whether it was for Aiyuk, I don’t know. But then things kind of fell apart late.”
The recently turned 29-year-old is coming off a bit of a down year, but the 49ers in general took an unexpected step back. A Pro Bowler and former first-team All-Pro, Samuel would fit like a glove in an Arthur Smith offense that will open up the middle of the field more in 2025. The question is, how do the Steelers work through his contract and draft capital?
If the 49ers were to trade him before June 1, they would take on $31.5 million in dead money with no cap relief. If they trade him post-June 1, they would save just over $5 million against the cap while losing $10.75 million in dead money.As such, the 49ers may look to restructure his deal to help facilitate a trade for the 2019 second-round pick.
Nicholas Mcgee, A to Z Sports San Francisco
Expecting the Steelers to take on his contract with no editing from the 49ers is not a good bet. If San Francisco is unable to find a dance partner due to Samuel's hefty salary, he could be released and allowed to join a team outright. So stay tuned, because the offseason is officially here.
