Why Deebo Samuel is Uncertain About his Future with the 49ers

Sounds like Samuel isn't any more sure of his future now than he was before he restructured his deal. Why is that?

Jul 26, 2024; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel talks to the press during Day 4 of training camp at SAP Performance Facility. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images / D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images

SANTA CLARA -- When the 49ers finally gave Brandon Aiyuk a four-year, $120 million extension, it seemed clear that the 49ers couldn't afford Deebo Samuel much longer and would have to trade or release him within the next year. Doing so would save them lots of salary cap space.

Then the 49ers restructured Samuel's contract recently to create $16 million of cap space for this year. But now if the 49ers try to trade or cut Samuel next year before June 1, they'll take on $31.5 million in dead cap space.

So Samuel surely will stick around long-term, right?

"I don't know what y'all think restructuring a contract means," Samuel said Thursday in the 49ers locker room, "but that's not for y'all to know. It's for us to know. I'm going to control the things I can which is be where my feet are. I'm here right now and we'll see what the future holds."

Sounds like Samuel isn't any more sure of his future now than he was before he restructured his deal. Why is that?

Don't forget that the 49ers also restructured Arik Armstead's contract last year, then cut him this year with a post-June-1 designation because he missed games due to injury. Which means the 49ers could do the exact same thing to Samuel if he gets injured, which he does literally every season. They could cut him after June 1.

That's why Samuel knows the reconstructed deal doesn't mean anything about his future. It simply means the 49ers are desperate to create cap space that they can roll over to next year.