An AFC contender is reportedly inching closer to completing a trade for one of the San Francisco 49ers’ two superstar wide receivers, Deebo Samuel or Brandon Aiyuk.
Both Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk have been widely mentioned in trade rumors throughout the 2025 offseason. Samuel has two years left on his deal, while Aiyuk is entering the fifth and final year of his rookie contract.
During his appearance on “The Joe Starkey Show”, Pittsburgh Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that the AFC North club “will have a” new wide receiver by September. Fittipaldo opines that it will be either Deebo Samuel or Brandon Aiyuk:
“They will have a number two receiver on their roster come September, who is not on their roster now…I think it will be either Aiyuk or Samuel. I think there is another shoe to drop out there in San Francisco, they have too many good receivers.”
The Steelers traded their No. 2 wide receiver, Diontae Johnson, to the Carolina Panthers in a blockbuster deal that brought veteran cornerback Donte Jackson over to Steel City.
Brock recalls his emotions during the NFL draft amid trade rumors involving Aiyuk and Deebo
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GM Omar Khan hasn’t made any big WR splashes via trade or free agency this offseason, but he did use the No. 84 pick on promising Michigan product Roman Wilson. But with the 49ers seemingly listening to offers on both Samuel and Aiyuk, the opportunity is there for Khan to find George Pickens’ sidekick and take this offense to another level.
Deebo Samuel Is A More Realistic Trade Candidate Than Brandon Aiyuk
Brandon Aiyuk is the younger and more explosive wide receiver, but it’s hard to envision a scenario where 49ers GM John Lynch prioritizes keeping Samuel over the 2020 first-round pick.
Aiyuk was San Francisco’s top wide receiver last season, and he’s two years younger than the injury-prone Samuel. By trading the 28-year-old, the 49ers would clear $22 million in cap space for 2024 and just over $17.568 million for 2025, per OvertheCap.com.
Regardless, both Samuel and Aiyuk would make significant impacts on a Pittsburgh offense that needs more playmakers. Pickens displayed signs of growing into a superstar last year, but a No. 2 WR is necessary if Pittsburgh is to contend in the crowded AFC.
AFC Contender Lands 49ers Superstar WR Deebo Samuel In Blockbuster Trade Proposal That Would Shake Up The Super Bowl Odds
Deebo Samuel (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
Along with teammate Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel was widely mentioned as a potential trade candidate during last week’s NFL Draft.
When the 49ers drafted Florida Gators wide receiver Ricky Pearsall with the No. 31 selection, it certainly felt like Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel would be traded. ESPN’s Nick Wagoner recently reported that the 49ers were “taking calls on both,” but a deal never materialized for either superstar.
Of course, it’s not too late for a Samuel trade to transpire if the right offer comes along. Remember, Khalil Mack was traded from the Oakland Raiders to the Chicago Bears just days before the 20218 season began.
Plenty of teams could use Samuel’s all-world abilities, but one contender in the AFC stands out as an ideal landing spot for the 28-year-old. That would be Josh Allen’s Buffalo Bills, who desperately need a capable No. 1 wide receiver after trading Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans last month.
Buffalo used the No. 33 pick on Florida State wide receiver Keon Coleman, but asking him to replace Diggs’ All-Pro production is a little unfair for a rookie. Free agent signing Curtis Samuel, who hasn’t topped 851 receiving yards in a season, is better suited as a No. 3 receiver.
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What The Bills Should Offer For Deebo Samuel
Considering Buffalo only got a 2025 second-round pick from Houston for Diggs, it’s fair to assume that Brandon Beane won’t have to give up a future first-rounder for Samuel. The latter is three years younger than Diggs, but the Houston star has endured far better production.
Buffalo should offer San Francisco its 2025 second-round pick (Beane has Houston’s 2025 second-rounder in his back pocket) and a 2025 fourth-round selection.
Trading Samuel opens up valuable cap space for San Francisco to extend Aiyuk in the long term. They can even use the additional draft picks from Buffalo to swing a trade for another quality wide receiver.
The Bills’ new-look offense would consist of the two Samuels and Coleman. Acquiring Deebo would go a long way in helping Buffalo close the gap with the Kansas City Chiefs and remain a powerhouse in the AFC.
