Deebo Samuel and San Francisco 49ers agree to a 3-year agreement for up to $73.5 million

The final domino dropped on Sunday when wideout Deebo Samuel agreed to a three-year contract extension with the San Francisco 49ers, capping off an unpredictable trade request, social media purge, and signing of half a dozen other receivers to lucrative contracts.

According to sources who spoke with ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the three-year contract has a maximum value of $73.5 million and comes with guarantees of $58.1 million.

Samuel is the seventh wideout to receive a contract worth at least $24 million annually this summer. Only DeAndre Hopkins of the Arizona Cardinals had achieved that milestone before to this season.

By coming to an agreement, the Niners and Samuel put an acrimonious negotiation to a conclusion. In April, Samuel had asked the Niners for a trade. Despite that request, San Francisco remained steadfast in its desire to resolve whatever concerns Samuel might have and reward him with a big deal that would keep him with the organisation for a very long time.

The goal was achieved.

The Niners received several offers on Samuel at the NFL draught in April, but none came close to what it would have taken to let him leave. Samuel gradually reintegrated into the group during the ensuing weeks, playing in the team’s required full-squad minicamp in June. Samuel then arrived on schedule for the start of training camp this year.

As training camp got underway on Tuesday, he and coach Kyle Shanahan discussed the strategy for him, coming to the conclusion that Samuel would perform conditioning work on the side while the Niners and his representatives continued to negotiate a contract. General manager John Lynch of the Niners was more confident than ever at that time that a deal would be reached.

Then Lynch said, “We’ve had really productive and substantive talks.” “I don’t want to get everyone all excited that something is imminent because we’re not there yet, but really hopeful that in the near future we’ll be able to announce something that is exciting for everyone involved. Deebo is here today and we’re excited about moving forward with him as part of this team.”

The 49ers kept their most effective offensive player by signing Samuel. Samuel, then 26 years old, created the term “wide back” in 2021 as a result of his versatility as a running back and receiver. Samuel became a unique offensive threat in his dual position, becoming the third player in NFL history and the first since 1999 to have at least 1,000 receiving yards, five receiving touchdowns, and five rushing touchdowns in the same season.

Samuel scored a total of 14 touchdowns along the way, averaging a league-best 18.2 yards per reception and 6.2 yards per rush. His eight rushing touchdowns were the most by a receiver in league history, and his 1,770 yards from scrimmage, which ranked third in the NFL, propelled him to All-Pro honours.

Samuel has 550 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns in three NFL seasons in addition to 167 receptions for 2,598 yards and 10 receiving touchdowns. He participated in 38 games, missing just one game each in 2019 and 2021 and nine games in 2020.