The San Francisco 49ers figure to be one of the biggest players on the wide receiver market this offseason. With guys like Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings as good as gone, there will be a massive emphasis at the position for John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan, and adding an established star is a likely path.
49ers Could Bring Back Deebo Samuel In 2026
But the 49ers don’t just need one receiver. Given their lack of both star power and depth, it is likely that they add perhaps even 3 or 4 names to the depth chart. Would the team consider bringing back Deebo Samuel on an affordable contract?
Samuel was a cornerstone piece for San Francisco during his first six seasons in the league. In his All-Pro season in 2021, he racked up 1,405 receiving yards on just 77 catches, leading the NFL in yards per reception. He was the team’s Swiss army knife, as he was also able to add 365 yards and 8 touchdowns on the ground, giving him 14 total scores on the season.
YES or NO — Do you want the #49ers to bring back WR Deebo Samuel on a short-term deal?
💰PFF’s contract projection:
2 years, $32M
$20M guaranteed pic.twitter.com/8NcxbwVbZf— 49ers & NFL News 24/7 (@49ersSportsTalk) January 31, 2026
The performance that year earned him a massive 3-year, $73.5 million deal. Unfortunately, he never came close to repeating the numbers from his breakout season. Samuel never eclipsed 900 receiving yards again, and 2023 was the only season in which he amassed 1,000+ scrimmage yards. He clashed with teammates in 2024 and had just four total touchdowns on the year, and the 49ers shipped him off for a 5th round pick last offseason.
Now, after a year with the Washington Commanders, Samuel is a free agent again. And while it is clear that he is no longer the one-man offensive wrecking crew that he once was, there is a chance that he could fit in again in San Francisco. With Christian McCaffrey having taken over the role of “do-it-all” weapon for the 49ers, Deebo Samuel could perhaps play a complimentary role, and he certainly knows the ins-and-outs of Shanahan’s offensive schemes.
Would age be an issue at all for San Francisco? Samuel will be 31 years old at the end of next season, and has even extra mileage from his 136-touch season in 2021 and three 90+ touch years since. Because of that, Samuel doesn’t figure to be one of the hottest commodities on the free agent market this offseason, and he could come with an affordable price tag.
If Deebo Samuel were willing to accept a one or two-year contract with the 49ers, then San Francisco may be willing to add him back to the roster.
