Cooper Kupp might not be the only big-name wide receiver who the Patriots could look into trading for this NFL offseason.
NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport on Sunday morning reported the 49ers are “expected to explore” a trade involving Deebo Samuel in the coming months. Rapoport noted it’s not guaranteed that Samuel leaves San Francisco this offseason, but “it’s enough of a possibility that both sides appear to be at peace with moving on if it goes that way.”
Should the Niners make Samuel readily available, it would not be surprising if the Patriots made a call out to the Bay Area. After all, New England reportedly had “preliminary trade discussions” with San Francisco about the versatile playmaker before last year’s draft. Samuel himself was aware of the trade chatter but didn’t seem particularly fazed.
This could be an opportunity for the Patriots to strike while the iron is hot, too, as Samuel is coming off the worst season of his NFL career. The 2019 second-round pick also turned 29 last month, so New England potentially wouldn’t have to pay a steep price for a skill-position player who isn’t far away from being on the wrong side of 30.
Samuel, who signed a three-year extension with the 49ers in late July 2022, is slated to have a salary cap hit of roughly $15.8 million next season, per Spotrac. He can become a free agent after the 2025 campaign.
