Deebo Samuel remains unsigned, but he's confident that his best football is still ahead of him.
As training camps begin across the league, Samuel is still one of the top free agents available. In a video on his YouTube channel, he dismissed the idea that his career is ending.
"Going on Year 8 … [I] still feel like I got a lot, at least like three, four good years left," Samuel said.
He also admitted that waiting has been challenging.
"All the free agency stuff going on, waking up in the morning, looking at your phone, seeing if your agent hit you and was like, 'This team is interested,' or things along those lines," Samuel said. "And it's been kind of like a roller coaster."
For 49ers fans, hearing this naturally brings back memories of what Samuel meant to San Francisco.
San Francisco drafted Samuel in the second round in 2019, hoping his physical, versatile style from South Carolina would translate to the NFL. Over the next few years, he became a rare kind of player: a receiver who could also run the ball, act as a decoy, or even fill in as an extra tight end, depending on what Kyle Shanahan needed each week.
The 2021 season still stands out in Bay Area highlight reels. Samuel caught 77 passes for 1,405 yards and six touchdowns, and added 365 rushing yards with eight more scores. Those numbers earned him First-Team All-Pro honors and made opposing coaches plan for him in unique ways. San Francisco reached the NFC Championship Game that year, with Samuel playing a key role in many big moments, from breaking tackles for touchdowns to making crucial third-down plays.
But Samuel's impact went beyond the numbers. He gave the 49ers offense its identity. Shanahan's team didn't just rely on finesse; they aimed to be physical, unpredictable, and tough to bring down in open space. Samuel showed that style better than anyone, whether he was powering through a linebacker or dodging a cornerback on a slant.
Injuries and roster changes made it harder for Samuel to stay at his peak in the following years, and the offense started to rely on other players. Still, even with a smaller role, Samuel remained one of the most respected players in the locker room. He was the type of veteran who always accepted blocking assignments and never complained about his touches, knowing his value was about more than just stats.
An Uncertain Next Chapter
That's why his current situation feels so strange. Rather than preparing for another playoff run, Samuel is not on a training camp roster. He is waiting behind players like Stefon Diggs, Keenan Allen, and Tyreek Hill in a crowded veteran receiver market. Teams usually focus on younger players at this point in the year before considering experienced veterans, and Samuel seems to be stuck in that waiting game.
Still, Samuel doesn't sound like someone ready to retire. If anything, his words are a clear response to anyone doubting whether he still deserves a spot on an NFL team.
A reunion with the 49ers sounds appealing, but it's not likely. San Francisco has already rebuilt its group of receivers and changed its offensive style without him. Unless something unexpected happens, that opportunity seems to be gone.
Even so, hearing Samuel talk about the years he thinks he has left is a good reason to remember how he helped shape the 49ers' recent run. He wasn't just a good player; he was truly unique. If he's right about having three or four more years, another team could see that version of Samuel again. It just won't be the team that found him first.
Comments