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49ers linked to reunion with history-making ex-$71 million Pro Bowl WR originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The San Francisco 49ers didn’t waste much time snagging Mike Evans on the free agent wide receiver market to start the offseason, signing the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers star wideout to a three-year, $42.4 million deal.
With the 49ers preparing to lose Brandon Aiyuk after a drama-filled six-year stint, though, San Francisco might look to replace him with a contributor who can have an immediate impact. In CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell's mind, reuniting with a history-making (first WR to record 20 touchdown catches and touchdown runs) 29-year-old All-Pro receiver makes ‘all the sense in the world’.
“Deebo Samuel lost a step in 2025, and he also battled through quarterback instability," Podell wrote Tuesday. "Samuel averaged a career-low 10.1 yards per reception in 2025, and the two lowest receiving yards per game totals of his seven-year career came in 2024 (44.7) and 2025 (45.4)."
“Samuel isn't the same bulldozing Swiss Army knife that once served as the focal point of Kyle Shanahan's San Francisco 49ers offense.”
“He can still knock would-be tacklers over in the open field after the catch, as evidenced by his playmaking against the Dallas Cowboys on Christmas, but his separation in his route running is slipping. Samuel still has value in 2026, but it's not what it once was in his prime. It would make all the sense in the world for Samuel to come back home to San Francisco.”
Samuel was electric with the 49ers to begin his NFL career as a speedy 6-foot receiver frequently used in jet sweep situations. The South Carolina product caught 77 passes for 1,405 receiving yards to go along with 365 rushing yards and 14 total touchdowns during what is still regarded as his best NFL season to date (2021-22).
Samuel hasn’t been the same since, though, which explains why the 49ers traded him to the Commanders for a fifth-round pick last offseason.
Bringing the former second-round back to San Francisco could be the move that helps him return to his dynamic and versatile ways on the gridiron following a less-than-ideal season with Washington.
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