Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves in a case of Deja vu after another trade saga begins to unfold with 49ers star WR
It was around this time last year that trade rumors surrounding San Francisco 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk began to surface. A saga that dragged on until training camp, the Pittsburgh Steelers were close multiple times, but ultimately couldn't come to a deal. But now, the other star WR in the bay is looking for a […]
It was around this time last year that trade rumors surrounding San Francisco 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk began to surface.
A saga that dragged on until training camp, the Pittsburgh Steelers were close multiple times, but ultimately couldn't come to a deal.
But now, the other star WR in the bay is looking for a new team, and the Steelers might be interested again…
Deebo Samuel Allowed to Seek a Trade
The 49ers have granted Deebo Samuel and his agent Tory Dandy permission to find a trade partner for the wide receiver, Samuel told ESPN. This comes after Samuel asked San Francisco to trade him during the players’ exit meetings after the season.
– Adam Schefter, ESPN (Via Instagram)
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.
