Kittle, Juszczyk Urge 49ers to Reunite With 30-Year-Old Deebo Samuel

Q: With Evans and Kirk signed, what role is truly left for Deebo Samuel in the 49ers' crowded receiver room?

Very little—unless the 49ers want Deebo Samuel as a situational depth piece rather than a featured receiver. San Francisco’s top roles appear spoken for. Mike Evans projects as the primary outside target, Christian Kirk as the slot option, and Ricky Pearsall is expected to hold a major role, with second-round pick De’Zhaun Stribling pushing for snaps and younger receivers such as Jacob Cowing and Jordan Watkins also in the mix. That makes it hard to justify Samuel as an every-down wideout, especially after the team spent the offseason getting both more experienced and younger at the position. The case for Samuel is narrower but still real. He knows Kyle Shanahan’s system, remains useful after the catch, and can still offer hybrid value as a motion player, screen target, backfield gadget option and injury insurance. That matters for a team that dealt with major health issues in 2025 and may need to manage George Kittle’s workload early. On a cheap one-year deal, Samuel could fill the kind of flexible, matchup-based role that does not require starter-level volume. But the broader evidence suggests the 49ers have largely moved on. Team-building signals point toward Evans, Kirk, Pearsall and Stribling as the core of the new receiver room, and some insiders have said San Francisco’s offseason moves effectively closed the door on a reunion. If Samuel returns, it would likely be as WR4/WR5 and offensive utility depth—not as the centerpiece he once was.

3 articles · Updated · Niners Nation · Jul 20

George Kittle and Kyle Juszczyk publicly pushed for Deebo Samuel’s return, joking on Instagram that they each have a guest house waiting for the former 49ers wideout.
Samuel, 30, is available after his Washington Commanders contract expired following a 2025 season of 72 catches, 727 yards and five touchdowns in 16 games.
San Francisco has already reshaped its receiver room by signing Mike Evans and Christian Kirk and drafting De’Zhaun Stribling at No. 33 after a 2025 season with no wideout topping 650 yards.
A reunion would still test the 49ers’ stated goal of getting younger and cheaper, even as the club has added veterans to press its current championship window.