Deebo Samuel has turned heads in the NFL world after submitting a trade request to the San Francisco 49ers, and the Dallas Cowboys are already linked to the receiver.
Any star who is set to enter free agency or who requests a trade will be linked to the Cowboys, but Samuel’s liking on Twitter a fan-made photo illustration of him in a Dallas uniform suggests that he could be content with a switch to Texas.
On whether the Cowboys would pursue Samuels, team CEO and Director of Player Personnel Stephen Jones appeared on the April 22 episode of 105.3 The Fan’s “K&C Masterpiece” and gave Cowboys fans a hint.
“Cowboys VP Stephen Jones on @1053thefan when indirectly asked about Deebo Samuel: ‘You obviously keep [your] eye on anything & everything that’s going on. Things have to fit in and work, but we’re always looking at where we are from a personnel standpoint and where we can get better,’” tweeted Jon Machota of The Athletic.
Jones didn’t give too much away with that statement, avoiding referring to Samuel by name. However, it appeared to reiterate a statement earlier this week that the team would continue to be active this offseason beyond next week’s draft.
49ers Not Letting Deebo Go Easily
As one might guess, San Francisco isn’t going to lie down and allow its best offensive player leave quickly or cheaply. It’s an expected sentiment, one conveyed by The Athletic reporter Connor Hughes.
“While Deebo Samuel can scream to the high heavens RE trade, #49ers have him under contract for this year & next (tag). Samuel won’t forfeit that money,” Hughes tweeted on April 20. “Leverage is with San Francisco. From what I’m told: SF well aware they need Deebo to compete. Source: ‘He ain’t getting out.’”
Essentially, Deebo can’t force anything. NFL rookie contracts are built to set players who attempt to sit out or refuse to report as a restricted free agent in the final years of their contracts. That means Samuel would further limit his options in 2023, when he’s supposed to be a free agent.
This doesn’t mean that the Cowboys or another team wouldn’t be able to land Deebo, but Hughes stated that he thought it would take a “king’s ransom” for the 49ers to trade away the 2021 first-team All-Pro.
Cowboys CEO on CeeDee Lamb
Besides addressing a potential addition at wide receiver, Jones was also asked about the Cowboys’ feelings about current No. 1 receiver CeeDee Lamb. Lamb, who is coming off his first Pro Bowl nod, has totaled 2,037 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in his first two seasons in Dallas.
So, it should come as no surprise that Jones said Dallas believes Lamb can be the No. 1 pass catcher and more. Considering that the team traded Amari Cooper earlier this offseason, its offseason approach has said as much.
“I think the sky is the limit for CeeDee Lamb,” Machota reported Jones saying during his radio appearance. “He should get more opportunities than he’s ever had. I wouldn’t bet against CeeDee on any (stats he could achieve this upcoming season).”
Lamb will have a premium opportunity to solidify himself as an elite receiver in the league as the Cowboys’ primary target for quarterback Dak Prescott. Last season was a statistical step-up for the receiver in pretty much every category, so 2022 is fertile ground for an explosive season.
