ESPN.com · Mar 2, 2025
How the 49ers will replace Deebo Samuel after trade
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SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- As the San Francisco 49ers prepared for free agency and the NFL draft last year, there was a subtle but unmistakable sense that wide receiver was a sneaky roster need.
On Saturday, the 49ers agreed to trade wideout Deebo Samuel Sr. to the Washington Commanders in exchange for a fifth-round pick and now find themselves in a similar situation, though there's nothing sneaky about it this time.
Although a Samuel trade felt inevitable since he requested it in his end-of-season meeting, it doesn't make saying goodbye any easier for general manager John Lynch, who called Samuel one of his favorite draft picks since he took over in 2017.