It wasn't that long ago that Deebo Samuel was considered almost untouchable by the San Francisco 49ers.

After his stunning All-Pro season of 2021, the 49ers were reported as turning down trade packages for Samuel that included first-round picks on the night of the 2022 draft. The Niners went on to sign him to a three-year, $71.5 million extension.

Fast forward to the 2024 draft, and the 49ers were said to have been entertaining trade offers for Samuel as late as the second round of the 2024 draft before eventually deciding to hold to him.

But with Samuel having no guaranteed money on the final year of his contract in 2025 and the 49ers likely to give quarterback Brock Purdy a potentially record-breaking deal next offseason, there is a significant amount of speculation that the 2024 campaign could be his last with San Francisco.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, however, Samuel appeared completely unaffected by all the noise surrounding his future with the team.

Asked about the trade discussions around the draft, Samuel replied: "I heard it, had a conversation with my agent about it, you know they was going back and forth with whoever it was. It was a thing at first but we done moved past it. We here and we’re here to get better."

Samuel is due a $16.6 million base salary next year, when he will carry a $24.2 million cap hit, down from the $28.6 million he will count against this year's cap. However, the 49ers can get out of Samuel' contract in 2025 with little difficulty. 

A post-June 1 cut or, more likely, a post June-1 trade would see the Niners make $17.56 million in cap savings and cost them $6.6 million in dead cap charges.

But the 2019 second-round pick is similarly unconcerned about that possibility.

He added: "At the end of the day, contract was signed, I know what I signed up for and we just focused on this year."

With what looks likely to be a massive contract on the horizon for Purdy, nobody in the 49ers' facility will be under any illusion about the future and the likely need for changes to the most stacked roster in football. The 49ers have several other starters set to hit free agency next year and they are acutely aware they cannot pay everyone.

The 49ers' Super Bowl window will likely remain open as long as they have Kyle Shanahan and a quarterback who can run his offense to the standard Purdy does. But 2024 looms as a likely last ride for this core group of players. Samuel doesn't know what the future will hold, but his mindset in ignoring the noise and focusing on ensuring his potential last hurrah with the Niners is one in which they are again competing for the ultimate prize is exactly the right one

Christian McCaffrey’s San Francisco 49ers contract extension is also a win for Brandon Aiyuk

It increases their options.