Tag: Suitors

Chiefs could be suitors in trade for 49ers WR Deebo Samuel

#49ers WR Deebo Samuel wants out and the #Chiefs are likely to be considered suitors for several reasons.

With the 2022 NFL draft just around the corner, news of players requesting trades has started with a bang.

As first reported by ESPN’s Jeff Darlington, 49ers WR Deebo Samuel has formally requested a trade from the team. There have been some rumors of discontent for a while with Samuel having scrubbed his Instagram account of all 49ers-related images earlier this offseason. Those only intensified this week when Samuel’s brother commented on the situation.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, this trade request came over a week ago. He added that money is not the issue at the root of Samuel’s trade request. Speculation suggests that this could have more to do with his role or the upcoming quarterback switch with the 49ers than a contract dispute.

The Kansas City Chiefs are expected to be one of the teams heavily linked to Samuel in a trade scenario for a variety of reasons. Not only do they have the need after trading away star WR Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins earlier this offseason, but they’re one of the few teams with the draft capital required to accomplish the trade. They have 12 picks in the 2022 NFL draft and they’re projected to have 10 draft picks in the 2023 NFL draft.

Remember, the Chiefs were also willing to pay Hill and negotiated a contract extension with him before deciding to trade him. The Chiefs are likely able to afford whatever type of contract extension that Samuel is looking for as he enters the final year of his rookie deal.

There’s also the fact that Chiefs GM Brett Veach has been aggressive when it comes to trading for proven veterans. Since taking over as GM following the 2017 NFL draft, Veach has made just one first-round draft pick after trading to acquire Frank Clark (2019) and Orlando Brown Jr. (2021). A trade like this should be enticing to him.

Samuel had a breakout campaign with San Francisco last season, earning First-Team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl selection for the first time in his career. He had 77 catches for 1,405 yards and six touchdowns, but also carried the ball 59 times for 365 yards and eight scores. Over the past three seasons, Samuel has averaged 15.6 yards per reception and 6.8 yards per rushing attempt. That type of versatility is something that could thrive in an Andy Reid offense.

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Several suitors already emerging for Chiefs’ top pending free agents

We still have over a month to go until the NFL’s free agency period begins, but potential suitors are already emerging for top Chiefs’ pending free agents.

As with any Super Bowl-winning team, the Kansas City Chiefs’ pending free agents will be hot commodities during the upcoming NFL free agency period.

Clubs are not permitted to contact pending free agents until the legal tampering period begins on March 16. The talking heads, however, are already piecing together connections between pending free agents for the Chiefs and their respective teams.

Philadelphia Inquirer beat writer Jeff McClane reported ahead of the Super Bowl that the Philadelphia Eagles have Chiefs’ pending free agent WR Demarcus Robinson, “in their sights.” He notes that Robinson took a top-30 visit with the Eagles ahead of the 2016 NFL draft and was a favorite of GM Howie Roseman. Now that he’s a Super Bowl Champion, the Eagles could have even more incentive to bring him in as they try to get back to the big dance.

The big fish that most everyone has their hearts set on is 26-year-old DT, Chris Jones. Three writers for teams with big needs in the pass-rushing department are already pondering whether their teams might be a fit for Jones. Those teams include the division rival Las Vegas Raiders, the Detroit Lions and the Arizona Cardinals.

I’m not so convinced that Kansas City will be willing to let Jones simply walk in free agency. If I had to make a guess right now, they’ll use the franchise tag on him in order to buy more time to negotiate a long term extension. If they’re unable to negotiate an extension, they’ll seek to trade him to an NFC team to ensure they’ll rarely have to face him.

The Chiefs have several other pending free agents that will likely emerge as targets for teams in the coming weeks. Players like Bashaud Breeland, Kendall Fuller, Reggie Ragland and more could be coveted after their 2019 seasons.

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