The San Francisco 49ers kicked off the first of two mandatory minicamp practices this week. Some players, like wide receiver Deebo Samuel, are happy to get back on the field and put some of the offseason drama behind them. Before and during the 2024 NFL Draft, Samuel's name was often linked to trade rumors.
The 49ers are trying to sign Brandon Aiyuk to a long-term deal that will make him among the highest-paid receivers in the league. It makes sense that the 49ers might think twice about paying two wideouts top-tier money. While Samuel's future beyond 2024 remains unclear, he knows he will be around for at least one more season.
As for the trade rumors leading up to the draft, the chatter was difficult to ignore. "Yeah, I heard it," Samuel admitted to reporters today. "Had a conversation with my agent about it.
They was going back and forth with whoever it was. It was a thing at first, but we done moved past it. So we here, and we here to get better.
" When asked about his uncertain future, Samuel acknowledged that he was aware of all possibilities when signing his contract in 2022. "At the end of the day, the contract was signed. I know what I signed up for, and we just focused on this year," Samuel noted.
Where is Trent Williams? Trent Williams was among the players noticeably absent during today's practice. However, head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed that the offensive tackle had a good excuse. "Trent's daughter is graduating today," Shanahan said.
"He should be here tomorro.
