BIG NEWS: The Patriots has been named trade fit for in-season deal for $71.55 million All-Pro
They were unable to trade for Brandon Aiyuk or sign Calvin Ridley in 2024 NFL free agency, but the New England Patriots can still obtain an All-Pro wide receiver by making an in-season transaction with Aiyuk’s San Francisco 49ers colleague Deebo Samuel.
Samuel, who has two years left on a $71.55 million contract, is anticipated to be traded once Aiyuk finally signed his own new deal. According to Michael Silver of The San Francisco Chronicle, the 49ers will receive trade offers for Deebo Samuel between now and the deadline. Right now, it’s quite doubtful that they will trade him. Early November? Depends on a number of factors.”
Silver believes coping with Samuel is dependent on a number of variables. One of those could be true financial concerns, as Aiyuk was granted a four-year extension worth $120 million on Thursday, August 29, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Niners’ next hurdle will be to balance their accounts. Former agent Joel Corry, writing for CBS Sports, believes the process will be easier without both Aiyuk and Samuel on the roster: “The 49ers will save $9,057,529 in salary cap space by trading Samuel in 2025.” It’s a $24,200,529 cap amount with $15.143 million in dead money.
If Samuel is available, Justin Melo of The Draft Network feels the Patriots should trade for the 28-year-old. Melo believes that youngster Drake Maye will replace Jacoby Brissett as starting quarterback by November, therefore the Patriots will require additional playmakers around the third-overall choice in this year’s draft.
Samuel meets the criteria because his “ability to remove pressure from his quarterbacks by making plays as a runner and underneath the coverage is a young passer’s best friend.”
Another incentive to consider this bargain is its inexpensive cost. According to Melo, “the Patriots wouldn’t part with a first-round selection, but the 49ers wouldn’t get that level of compensation during an in-season trade anyway.”
This may appear to be a reach given Aiyuk’s decision to stay in the Bay Area, but there are strong reasons why Samuel could be traded. The grounds for the Patriots to be a suitor are numerous and obvious.
Deebo Samuel Trade is Perfect for Patriots
Samuel is ideal for the Patriots since he has assisted unknown and underappreciated quarterbacks in San Francisco. Former Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo advanced to the Super Bowl largely because to Samuel’s spectacular 2019 season.
More recently, Brock Purdy, the 49ers’ final draft pick in 2022, has led the team to another Super Bowl, with Samuel as a vital weapon. Samuel could do the same for Maye as a real dual-threat playmaker capable of tearing up defenses both in the air and on the ground.
The wideout specializes in converting short, quick tosses into big plays because to his ability to gain yards after the catch. This 50-yard catch-and-run for a score against the Philadelphia Eagles last season is a perfect example of Samuel’s strengths.
According to Pro Football Reference, Samuel has at least 398 yards after catch in every season of his career. He has also averaged more than eight yards after catch per reception in each of his five seasons.
No study of Samuel’s characteristics would be complete without addressing his importance in the running game. He’s quick and powerful when he takes a handoff, as Samuel demonstrated on this scoring rush against the Dallas Cowboys in the 2021 playoffs, as reported by Inside the NFL.
Samuel’s breakaway speed would be an ideal compliment to Rhamondre Stevenson’s sheer strength in New England’s ground-based assault.
Samuel would do all that the Patriots signed his former colleague Kendrick Bourne to do in 2021. However, Bourne has been little more than a poor man’s Samuel, leaving the Patriots without an outstanding wide receiver.
Patriots Still Waiting for Elite Receiver
Attempts to sign a top-tier pass-catcher have failed multiple times this offseason. According to Chris Mason of MassLive.com, “the misses in free agency (Calvin Ridley) and on the trade market (Brandon Aiyuk) must also be acknowledged.” In both cases, the players did not appear to want to join the Patriots, but at the end of the day, it’s a business, and neither will aid New England’s offense this season.
Due to a lack of established quality among the receivers, the Patriots must rely on unproven promise. Wideouts like as sophomore slot receiver DeMario Douglas and rookie Ja’Lynn Polk must establish themselves soon.
With so few choices, the Patriots must rely on a shaky third-year pro to rise up and exceed expectations. With so many questions surrounding his receivers, Maye’s task will become even more difficult once he takes over for Brissett.
Samuel is the type of quarterback-friendly target the Patriots will require while they wait for Maye to reverse the franchise’s recent struggles at football’s most vital position.
