Samuel’s agent will reportedly reach out to Steelers

According to a report from SI.com, Deebo Samuel’s agent will reach out to the Pittsburgh Steelers to discuss a trade.

The San Francisco 49ers wide receiver has received permission to seek a trade with another team. Via Noah Strackbein of S.I., one of those clubs he intends to talk to is the Steelers.

“According to a source from another NFL team, Samuel and his agent (Tory Dandy) are ‘absolutely’ going to attempt to engage with the Steelers, making them an immediate candidate if they share the same interest,” Strackbein wrote. “The Steelers spent most of last summer trying to land Samuel’s running mate, Brandon Aiyuk, in a deal from San Francisco. Aiyuk signed an extension with the 49ers, leaving Pittsburgh high and dry heading into the season. During those calls, it was reported that Pittsburgh asked about Samuel and his availability, trying to discuss a trade for him instead.”

ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter also told the “Pat McAfee Show” on Monday that the Steelers or Baltimore Ravens may be a destination for Samuel. He added Cincinnati to Samuel’s list if Tee Higgins leaves the Bengals.

However, the 2021 All-Pro was recently on a Bleacher Report podcast and was pumping up the Denver Broncos.

Some have speculated that Samuel’s versatile skill set may be a perfect fit for Sean Payton’s “joker” position in Denver. In other words, Samuel could be featured in that role as more receiving-heavy version of how Alvin Kamara was utilized in the role in New Orleans.

During 2024, Samuel caught 51 passes for 670 yards in 15 games and scored four total touchdowns. While the 29-year-old appears to be getting along in age quickly in his career, he could still be a better option in that do-everything role offensive coordinator Arthur Smith kept trying to will into existence for Cordarrelle Patterson last year.

As of now, Samuel is set to earn $17.46 million in 2025 based on numbers from OverTheCap. This is the last year of his contract. He has four voidable years remaining after 2025. He is due a $15.4 million option bonus on March 22.

San Francisco would be hit with a $31.5 million dead cap charge if they trade or cut Samuel before that option is due. So that might mean that the 49ers could just cut Samuel after June 1.

The Steelers need a second receiver from somewhere, be it the draft, the trade market or free agency. They may need guys from all three pools if they trade George Pickens. Los Angeles’ Cooper Kupp is another player we’ve discussed. Both are former stars who have been slowed by injuries in the past. I’d still be happy if the Steelers landed either player. They need the help. That receiver room is empty.

While Kupp is the better pure route runner at this stage, if Smith is going to be obsessed with finding someone in that utility knife kind of position, why not make it Samuel and kill two birds with one stone?

Especially if he is gong to potentially wind up in Baltimore or Cincinnati if he doesn’t come here.