NFL - US Sports: Samuel reportedly set to skip 49ers' offseason drills

bet365 News Team Apr 18 2022

Deebo Samuel and two other top wide receivers from his rookie class of 2019 will reportedly skip their respective teams' on-field offseason drills as each seeks a lucrative contract extension.

The San Francisco 49ers, 11/2 to win the NFC Championship, report back for voluntary offseason workouts at their Santa Clara facility on Tuesday, but ESPN's Adam Schefter says they shouldn't expect to see Samuel there.

Samuel future in the balance

The second-round draft pick out of South Carolina enjoyed a breakout season in 2021, racking up 1,770 total yards and 14 total touchdowns for the 49ers.

His unique role in Kyle Shanahan's offense, with Samuel describing himself as a 'wide back', saw him set an NFL record for the most single-season rushing touchdowns by a wide receiver with eight.

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Decisions to be made

By blurring the definition of wide receiver, Samuel's next contract could prove to be a complicated calculation for San Francisco as they weigh up whether to pay him as much as other top wideouts like Devante Adams and Tyreek Hill have negotiated following offseason trades.

Schefter also claims A.J. Brown of the Tennessee Titans and the Washington Commanders' Terry McLaurin will not take part in on-field drills as their teams return for voluntary workouts in the coming days.

All three players are entering the final year of their rookie contracts, having been selected on day two of the 2019 draft.

Samuel was named a first-team All-Pro in 2021 after racking up 1,405 receiving yards - a career-high.

It was also the first time any wideout had surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in his three NFL seasons.