BUFFALOS NEWS: A 28year old San Francisco’s All-star has been placed on the market, and the Bills might be wise to make a call.

A recent report indicated that Deebo Samuel, an experienced wide receiver, might be open to a trade. This news emerged Thursday evening, following a series of trades that pushed the Buffalo Bills out of the first round of the NFL draft. With their focus seemingly on acquiring a wide receiver, the Bills made two trades, leaving them with the 33rd overall pick in the second round on Friday.

Buffalo’s draft strategy surprised many observers, as they were widely expected to address their need for a wide receiver. Both trades, one with Kansas City and the other with Carolina, resulted in those teams acquiring wide receivers. However, the wideouts obtained by these teams weren’t the ones Buffalo seemed to have in mind. 

Instead, attention turned to San Francisco, who selected Ricky Pearsall, a slot receiver from Florida, with the 31st overall pick. Speculation has surrounded the 49ers throughout the offseason, particularly regarding the potential trade of veteran receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who is due for a contract extension. However, veteran NFL reporter Mike Silver hinted at another possibility.

Deebo Samuel, who has two years left on his contract, has seen a decline in his usage since his standout 2021 season, where he earned First Team All-Pro honors. Last season, he recorded 60 catches for 892 yards and seven touchdowns in 15 games, a decrease from his 94 receptions for 632 yards and two touchdowns in 2022. Given his hefty $20.9 million base salary in 2024, Silver’s report suggesting Samuel’s trade feasibility gains traction.

The draft’s first round saw seven wide receivers selected, and with options like Adonai Mitchell and Ladd McConkey available for Buffalo in the second round, San Francisco’s addition of Pearsall, a versatile inside-route specialist, raises the possibility of Samuel being on the trade market. A resurgence in targets exceeding 100 could be precisely what Buffalo desires, despite the potential financial implications.

While the Bills are likely to stick with their current draft position to maximize the acquired capital from trading out of the first round, it wouldn’t be surprising for them to explore the availability of Samuel, particularly if he’s open to renegotiating his contract.