While the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs are taking center stage on Super Bowl Sunday, the 2025 offseason has already begun for the league's other 30 franchises. One of them is open to moving a potential difference-maker in the coming weeks.

According to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, the San Francisco 49ers are "expected to explore trading" star receiver Deebo Samuel this offseason. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Samuel requested a trade at the end of the 2024 season and has now been given permission to seek a trade partner.

Samuel had a down year this past season, finishing with 806 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns. However, the 29-year-old remains a dynamic receiver and runner who had 1,117 yards with 12 touchdowns just two years ago.

Several receiver-needy teams should be interested in Samuel, especially if he can be had at a relative bargain. He's entering the final year of his contract, and San Francisco considered moving him last offseason, according to ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio.

Because of his age, skill set and contract status, Samuel wouldn't be a fit for every team, but here, we'll examine some sensible landing spots and some realistic trade packages the 49ers would be wise to consider.

Examining Samuel's Situation and Trade Value

Before we dive into Samuel's potential suitors, it's worth examining how he and the 49ers got to this point, his contract situation and his likely trade value.

As Florio noted, there was some buzz surrounding both Samuel and fellow receiver Brandon Aiyuk around the 2024 draft. Neither player was dealt, but the 49ers used a first-round pick on Ricky Pearsall and inked Aiyuk to a four-year, $120 million extension.

Samuel is likely no longer viewed as a significant piece of San Francisco's future, and he saw a diminished role in the offense this past season.

"Not struggling at all just not getting the ball," Samuel said in a since-deleted social media post (h/t ProFootballTalk's Michael David Smith).

According to Schefter, Samuel expressed to 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan that he'd prefer to continue his career elsewhere:

"I'm more than thankful for the Niners giving me the opportunity of a lifetime, but now I think it's best that we find another team."

The main issue for San Francisco is that Samuel has $31 million in dead money remaining on his contract. Trading him before June 1 would cost the 49ers an additional $15.2 million in 2025 cap space, while trading him after June 1 would save $5.2 million.

That could potentially hold up a trade until after April's draft, though that might not impact San Francisco's asking price too heavily. The 49ers would have a better 2025 financial situation by waiting, but future draft picks are generally valued less than immediate ones.

In either case, a third-round pick is likely the starting point for interested teams. The Las Vegas Raiders got a conditional third-rounder for Davante Adams in 2024—though he had more than two years remaining on his contract at the time. The Cleveland Browns got a third-round pick for Amari Cooper and a late-round pick swap ahead of the trade deadline.

Samuel should have some say regarding his next destination, since any team acquiring him will likely want him to agree to an extension before signing off on a trade.

Las Vegas Raiders

49ers Get: Conditional 2025 third-round pick

Raiders Get: WR Deebo Samuel

The Raiders are one team that could push for a Samuel trade early in the offseason. Las Vegas has $92.7 million in projected 2025 cap space, second-most in the NFL, and it could afford to chase free agents like Tee Higgins and Chris Godwin.

However, Las Vegas is also looking to experience a quick turnaround under franchise minority owner Tom Brady, new head coach Pete Carroll and new general manager John Spytek. Finding a new quarterback will likely be a big part of the equation.

According to Schefter, the Raiders are "likely to have some interest" in Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold.

Theoretically, trading for Samuel could help the Raiders make Darnold their prime focus in free agency. Landing him would also give Las Vegas' new quarterback a strong receiver trio in Samuel, Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers.

Las Vegas has the cap space needed to immediately sign Samuel to an extension, and it could then use the rest of its financial flexibility to other areas, like its offensive line and backfield.

It's worth noting that the Seattle Seahawks were reportedly interested in drafting Samuel back in 2019, per Schefter, when Carroll was Seattle's head coach.

If this scenario were to come to fruition, the Raiders would have essentially flipped Adams for Samuel.

Los Angeles Chargers

49ers Get: EDGE Joey Bosa, 2025 fifth-round pick

Chargers Get: WR Deebo Samuel

The Los Angeles Chargers made it to the postseason in Year 1 under head coach Jim Harbaugh. They had a stout defense and flashed some offensive potential, thanks to quarterback Justin Herbert and young receivers Quentin Johnston and Ladd McConkey.

However, Herbert (4 INTs) and the offense both struggled in L.A.'s 32-12 wild-card loss to the Houston Texans. The Chargers need to find a way to upgrade their receiving corps, and adding a seasoned veteran to the mix would be advisable.

The Chargers might have a chance to land Samuel by trading pass-rusher Joey Bosa to San Francisco, where he could pair with his brother, Nick Bosa. While many Chargers fans might not love that scenario, it would make some sense for L.A.

The elder Bosa will turn 30 in July and is coming off a modest five-sack season. He's also entering the final year of his contract, and the Chargers could save $25.4 million by trading him.

With $64.7 million in projected cap space, the Chargers could afford to either extend Bosa or extend Samuel after acquiring the receiver in a trade. Harbaugh and Co. could prefer the move that better supports their quarterback.

This is likely a trade the Chargers would prefer to make early, allowing them to target pass-rushing replacements in free agency and the draft. It would also be a tougher deal for San Francisco, financially, since Bosa's $13 million base salary far outweighs Samuel's $1.2 million base salary.

Kicking in a Day 3 draft selection could help balance things a bit, and the 49ers would end up with a potentially potent pass-rushing rotation—featuring both Bosas and Leonard Floyd—for an immediate 2025 run.

New England Patriots

49ers Get: 2026 third-round pick, WR Kendrick Bourne

Patriots Get: WR Deebo Samuel

The New England Patriots have a new head coach in Mike Vrabel, and they appear to have found their quarterback in 2024 first-round pick Drake Maye. What the Patriots don't have is a top-tier receiving corps capable of elevating their young signal-caller.

Tight end Hunter Henry led the Patriots with just 674 receiving yards this past season.

New England needs a true No. 1 receiver—and a high-end No. 2 wideout, for that matter. It could be very interested in acquiring Samuel, though perhaps not early in the offseason.

The Patriots lead the league with $122.1 million in projected cap space and can essentially outbid every other franchise for whatever receiving talent becomes available on the free-agent market. They may only turn to a Samuel trade after they've exhausted their options on the open market and in the draft.

It's worth noting, though, that New England has serious needs along the offensive line and could make that a priority over draft weekend.

Even if the Patriots add a receiver like Higgins or Godwin, they could come back to Samuel after the draft if unhappy with their overall depth. That could allow San Francisco to orchestrate a trade after June 1, bettering the 49ers' 2025 financial outlook.

While a 2026 third-round pick wouldn't be as valuable as a 2025 third-rounder, New England could include wide receiver Kendrick Bourne to get a deal done.

Bourne spent four seasons with Shanahan and the 49ers before coming to New England in 2021 and has two years left on his contract with base salaries of $5.5 million.

Pittsburgh Steelers

49ers Get: 2025 second-round pick

Steelers Get: WR Deebo Samuel, RB Jordan Mason

The Pittsburgh Steelers came close to acquiring Aiyuk last offseason—they had the "parameters" of a deal in place with San Francisco, according to Rapoport—and could reengage with the 49ers now that Samuel is available.

The Steelers do need a reliable second receiver opposite George Pickens, and Samuel's running and receiving ability would mesh with the concepts of offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.

Pittsburgh is also desperate to find some postseason success. While it hasn't experienced a losing season under Mike Tomlin, it also hasn't seen a playoff victory since the 2016 season.

These are reasons why the Steelers could pursue Samuel more aggressively than other teams—and there are others.

Samuel's $1.2 million base salary could be a huge factor here. Pittsburgh has $37.3 million in projected 2025 cap space but has to figure out a way to add or retain a quarterback this offseason.

Russell Wilson and Justin Fields are both impending free agents, and neither is likely to re-sign on a true bargain deal. Additionally, star pass-rusher T.J. Watt is entering a contract year and could soon receive an extension.

"[We] certainly hope we can have T.J. for the future, beyond this year," franchise owner Art Rooney II said, per The Athletic's Mike DeFabo.

The 49ers would probably jump on a second-round offer, especially with a Samuel trade feeling inevitable. The Steelers could justify it by pointing to Samuel's low 2025 price tag and by also requesting running back Jordan Mason in the deal.

Mason, who rushed for 789 yards and 5.2 yards per carry in 2024, could become a bargain replacement for impending free agent Najee Harris.

Washington Commanders

49ers Get: 2026 second-round pick

Commanders Get: WR Deebo Samuel, 2026 fifth-round pick

The Washington Commanders have $80.5 million in projected cap space and, like New England, might not pursue Samuel until after the draft.

In a vacuum, however, Samuel would make a ton of sense for Washington. Reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels was spectacular in 2024, but he could use another playmaking receiver opposite Terry McLaurin.

Olamide Zaccheaus was second among Washington wideouts with just 506 receiving yards this past season.

Samuel's rushing ability would also add a dangerous dynamic to Kliff Kingsbury's offense in Washington. That offense was already hard to corral because of Daniels' elite scrambling ability. Adding Samuel to the backfield as a running-receiving threat could open up Kingsbury's playbook even further.

While Washington has the cap space to target free-agent receivers before turning to the trade market, it also has several impending free agents who were brought in on short-term deals last offseason—the list includes Bobby Wagner, Dante Fowler Jr., Noah Brown, Jeremy Chinn and Zach Ertz, to name a few.

If the market price for receivers is high, the Commanders probably won't overspend, which could bring them back to Samuel post-draft. While some teams might get away with offering a third-round pick for Samuel, the 49ers may require a bit more value from Washington.

The Commanders, after all, just reached the NFC title game and aren't likely to be early in the draft order in the foreseeable future.

*Cap and contract information via Spotrac.