The 49ers played in the Super Bowl in 2024, but you wouldn’t believe it based on the current season. San Francisco heads into Week 15 with a 6-7 record and in last place in the NFC West.
The Niners aren’t out of the playoff hunt just yet, though. They’re two games back of the Seahawks with two games to go. The 49ers project to have the third-highest payroll in 2025, which would restrict them from making roster improvements this offseason, so aiming to win now might still be the move.
Yet wide receiver Deebo Samuel has fallen out of favor with 49ers fans. He was tasked with stepping up with teammate Brandon Aiyuk, who was sidelined for the season. Samuel has struggled to stay consistent and has seen his drop numbers increase. The problem for San Francisco is that the wideout is set to make $29 million next season.
Here is how the Niners can get out of Samuel’s contract ahead of 2025.
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Deebo Samuel, contract explained
Samuel signed a three-year, $75.55 million contract extension ahead of the 2022 season. He is under contract through the 2025 season and then will hit free agency. San Francisco used void years to restructure his contract, but Samuel is only under contract for one more season.
The 49ers can get out of Samuel’s contract, but it may be better for them just to keep him. Samuel has a $28,290,153 cap hit if he stays with the team. If San Francisco wants to cut him, it will come with a $31,517,612 dead cap hit. His contract has already been restructured once, and it could be again to make it easier to release him.
The 49ers drafted Samuel in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Whether the team releases him ahead of next season or doesn’t re-sign him again, he will soon hit the free agent market for the first time in his career.
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Deebo Samuel stats
| Year | Games | Receptions | Targets | Receiving Yards | Receiving TDs | Carries | Rushing Yards | Rushing TDs |
| 2019 | 15 | 57 | 81 | 802 | 3 | 14 | 159 | 3 |
| 2020 | 7 | 33 | 44 | 391 | 1 | 8 | 26 | 0 |
| 2021 | 16 | 77 | 121 | 1,405 | 6 | 59 | 365 | 8 |
| 2022 | 13 | 56 | 94 | 632 | 2 | 42 | 232 | 3 |
| 2023 | 15 | 60 | 89 | 892 | 7 | 37 | 225 | 5 |
| 2024 | 12 | 40 | 64 | 553 | 1 | 32 | 92 | 1 |
| Career | 78 | 323 | 493 | 4,675 | 20 | 192 | 1,099 | 20 |
Samuel was used in various ways at South Carolina when he was in college, and that continued at the professional level. Over his six-year career, he has had the same number of receiving and rushing touchdowns. This helps support the claim that he is not a WR1 but better projects as a team’s No. 2 receiver. The problem for San Francisco is that he is getting paid like a top wide receiver.
The 49ers have four more games this year, so Samuel has more opportunities coming his way but he would have to have quite the turnaround to come close to his career highs. His best season was in 2021 when he had 1,700+ yards and 14 total touchdowns, which helped him earn the extension.
