With the wide receiver market exploding this offseason, and several top receivers in the final year of their contract, trade talk is swirling across the NFL.
News of 49ers WR Deebo Samuel formally requesting a trade had the league buzzing about potential trade scenarios, not just for Samuel, but other top receivers who are due a contract extension. As we predicted, the Chiefs were instantly connected to Samuel because of need, draft capital and their history of pre-draft trades. Any speculation was quickly debunked with a report from CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson, stating that the team was not actively pursuing a trade for Samuel.
A new report from NFL Network’s Jeffri Chadiha adds that it’s not just Samuel that the Chiefs are not actively pursuing. Any of the other top receivers that might be on the trade block — DK Metcalf, AJ Brown and Terry McLaurin — are considered to be “long shots” for Kansas City at this point per Chadiha.
Some speculation that @Chiefs are interested in @49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel because of draft capital. A team source says a move for Samuel — or DK Metcalf, A.J. Brown or Terry McLaurin — isn’t likely. Told all those options “are probably all long shots at this point.”
— Jeffri Chadiha (@jeffrichadiha) April 21, 2022
One reason that the Chiefs are unlikely to pursue any of these players in trade is that they set the market for a receiver trade when they traded away Tyreek Hill. The 49ers are rumored to be asking for similar compensation in a trade for Samuel, who hasn’t been half as productive as Hill during his career. Other teams are likely seeking similar compensation for their star receivers, especially the teams that have publicly stated they’re not looking to deal those players. When you add in the fact that you have to turn around and hand out a long-term contract extension, the allure of trading for a top veteran receiver goes away quickly for a team like Kansas City.
At this point, it makes the most sense for the team to stick to their convictions and focus on the 2022 NFL draft.
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