Getty Deebo Samuel hardens the arms of the Titans’ Amani Hooker during the 49ers’ loss to Tennessee on Dec. 23, 2021.
Another member of the deep class of wide receivers in the 2019 NFL Draft class is a rich man: $71 million richer.
And now, Terry McLaurin and his successful $71 million deal he signed on Tuesday, June 28, raises this question regarding the San Francisco 49ers: When will Deebo Samuel finally get his mega-deal?
One more question: with what the Washington Commanders star just signed, does Samuel’s market compensate for this?
Commanders’ Terry McLaurin is signing a 3-year extension worth up to $71 million in new money that places him among the top five highest-paid WRs in the NFL, sources told ESPN. Buddy Baker and Tony Bonagura of Exclusive Sports Group finalized a deal today with Washington Senior Vice President Rob Rogers.
An insider covering the 49ers immersed himself in the kind of scenario the 49ers and Samuel now face now that McLaurin has joined players like AJ Brown and Hunter Renfrow as receivers who have made money from their new ’19 class deals. .
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What Insider revealed
The Athletic’s David Lombardi immediately took to Twitter the moment ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on the latest mega deal in what has been an unprecedented wide receiver market this offseason.
McLaurin, who has become his permanent target for his team, is now set to earn up to $23.6 million annually now that he signed a three-year contract extension. The former Ohio State Buckeye helped establish himself with a big payday after establishing himself as a back-to-back 1,000-yard receiver over the past two seasons.
But with McLaurin now earning more than $23 million, what does this mean for the 49ers and Samuel? Lombardi still believes the “wide back” All-Pro is worth up to $25 million per year.
“Considering the initial figures from Terry McLaurin’s deal, the alleged fair price for a Deebo Samuel extension, somewhere slightly above $25 million APY (average per year), seems unchanged. The guarantees remain the main mystery and probably the main stumbling block in the negotiations,” Lombardi tweeted.
Lombardi also had to address a frustrating 49ers fan who shared how “the 49ers are still digging a hole for themselves” now that the latest WR deal didn’t involve the ‘Niners. The source, however, believes that waiting could have its benefit on the side of the 49ers.
“If anything, waiting will save the 49ers a little bit of money. The WR market overheated a lot early this off-season and shows signs of cooling,” Lombardi explained.
What another whistleblower/columnist said about Samuel’s pending future deal
Lombardi wasn’t the only one who reacted with a 49ers angle to McLaurin’s deal.
Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area also gave her opinion on the matter, saying Tuesday afternoon that the Commanders’ star receiver deal “is another indicator of what Samuel might demand from the 49ers.”
Chan also wrote that “Ohio State’s product could offer the best comparison for Samuel of all receiver contracts signed through the 2022 offseason.”
However, has McLaurin’s production been comparable to Samuel’s? Chan wrote:
McLaurin has appeared in 46 regular-season games, catching 222 of his 357 goals for 3,090 yards and 16 touchdowns. These numbers are slightly more than their 49ers counterpart, but their 13.9 yards per reception are lower. The Washington receiver has only carried the ball three times for 42 yards.
“During the same time period, Samuel appeared in 38 regular-season games, catching 167 of his 246 goals for 2,598 yards and 10 touchdowns. San Francisco’s 15.6 receiving yards and 81 carries for 550 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns far exceed what McLaurin has recorded in his three seasons in the NFC East.
Chan concluded that what Samuel has accomplished during the postseason gives him an edge over McLaurin when it comes to value and financial impact. But for Samuel and the 49ers to reach a deal that exceeds all deals, here’s what the 49ers would have to overcome market-wise according to ESPN’s Field Yates:
WR’s offerings this offseason include: ▫️Davante Adams: 5 years, $142 million ▫️Tyreek Hill: 4 years, $120 million ▫️AJ Brown: 4 years, $100 million ▫️Stefon Diggs: 4 years, $96 million ▫️Cooper Kupp: 3 years, $80.1 million▫️Terry McLaurin: 3 years, $71 million▫️DJ Moore: 3 years, $61,884 million▫️Mike Williams/Chris Godwin: 3 years, $60 million
