There are other receivers on the roster, but nobody fits the mold of what Deebo Samuel brought to the offense for the 49ers
When the San Francisco 49ers dealt Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders for a fifth-round pick, it marked the end of an era for a special player with a unique skill set. As the team turns the page into 2025, the 49ers are tasked with replacing Samuel either in the draft or free agency. One thing is sure – Deebo’s replacement is not on the roster.
Ricky Pearsall flashed down the stretch but won’t fill Samuel’s spot as a one-for-one replacement. Pearsall will be asked to move all over the field as a natural separator and win one-on-one matchups. Jauan Jennings occupied the “X” receiver spot once Brandon Aiyuk went down but lacks the speed to separate despite being an excellent contested catch receiver.
Tim Kawakami of the SF Standard mentioned Terique Owens, the son of Terrell Owens, as a possible “X” receiver. While Kawakami stated he has heard the name from inside the building, he added he “doesn’t see it.” The assessment is correct, and Owens will provide nothing more than depth to the wide receiver room, given how little information we have on the youngster.
The question becomes: do the 49ers look to replace Samuel with a player of his similar skill set or pivot to a more traditional receiver?
Candidates to replace Samuel in the draft include Luther Burden III and Savion Williams. I’d argue adding a traditional route runner and receiver is the evolution needed for the 49ers offense in 2025. Samuel’s role in the 49ers’ offense should be treated as a one-of-one situation. If you need any more proof, take a look at all the prospects compared to Samuel, who never came close to having the impact of Deebo in every draft since his arrival.
Frankly, Samuel’s impact in the backfield was severely diminished even last season. If the original “wideback” saw a dip in efficiency, why is there a thought that anyone else can duplicate Samuel’s success, particularly in the 2021 season?
The 49ers need to evaluate separators at the position. In free agency, names like Darius Slayton and Elijah Moore should be considered, especially Moore, given his age (24) and cheap contract demands (4.5/year). While Moore is on the smaller side of stature, Slayton can provide a speed element to the offense and open up passing lanes underneath for George Kittle and others.
Either way, the 49ers can’t go into the season with Jennings and Pearsall as their two starters. Brandon Aiyuk is on the road to recovery and may be out of the door depending on who you ask. The team will surely add a few receivers, but one thing is for sure: the 49ers don’t need to fill Samuel’s role with another Samuel-type skillset.
Samuel’s time with the 49ers is a one-off. Perfect timing, scheme, and skillset. It will be nearly impossible to duplicate. Don’t overthink it; just go with receivers who can separate.