Deebo Samuel, in the middle of the first season where he qualified for an extension, scrubbed his Instagram for almost anything 49ers-related. His profile photo, which used to depict him in a 49ers uniform, is now blank, and there is no photo of him in a 49ers uniform, thanks to the graphic honoring him as a First-Team All-Pro. The social media maneuver isn't reason to believe he'll be traded or anything, but it's worth noting.
Samuel is due to cash in after a monster 2021 campaign, where he caught 77 passes for 1,405 yards and six touchdowns, and ran for 365 yards and eight touchdowns on 59 carries en route to his first All-Pro nod. For some reason their contract negotiations were never going to be easy.
Firstly, it is impossible to determine Samuel's positional value because of his double contribution as a wide receiver and running back. Paying him based on his value as a pass catcher takes eight of his quickest scores off the table. Paying him as a runner takes his 1,400 yards off the table. He should probably be paid among the top receivers in the league, and that's part of the reason he wants to splurge a bit more because of his running ability.
Second, San Francisco is already filled with top-of-the-market contracts. Trent Williams, George Kittel, Fred Warner, Eric Armstead and Kyle Juszcic all have contracts that sit at or near the top of their positions. Samuel's fellow 2019 draft pick Nick Bosa is also due for an extension that will make him one of the highest-paid defenders in the NFL. The 49ers will have little flexibility over the next few years with quarterback Trey Lance on a rookie contract, but that flexibility can only extend against hard caps.
Third, the 49ers may have some doubts about Samuel's ability to stay healthy if he is catching four passes per game and driving it seven times. He dealt with injuries in 2020, which limited him to just seven games, and San Francisco will have to figure out if they can continue to use him as a runner while also making sure he Stay on the field and join the passing game.
There are no clear answers and reaching any conclusion is going to be a long, perhaps sometimes rocky, road. This brings us to Samuel's Instagram account. Let's take a guess!
Chances are the 49ers are in April and their star wide receivers won't be particularly close to the numbers. It takes a lot of negotiation to happen and finding a middle ground involves going back and forth between the parties. It would make sense if something happened in the conversation that prompted Samuel to take action on social media. It's far from the end of the world as there won't be any holdouts until July, but it's absolutely worth noting because such changes to Instagram accounts don't happen by accident.
Although this is all speculation, we must also admit that Samuel may have done so randomly and has nothing to do with the conversation.
However, given the nature of the changes, it is hard to believe.
It makes no sense in the context of Samuel ultimately standing by the team. They have publicly stated that they want him. The IG change is probably the result of conversations that deserve attention, but the panic button shouldn't be in the dust just yet on whether he'll be with the team next season.