The San Francisco 49ers are on the verge of ending the Deebo Samuel era as he has been granted permission to seek a trade after expressing this desire. However, the team faces significant financial implications that make a trade improbable. They could incur up to $31.55 million in dead cap charges if they trade him during specific timelines, leading to speculation they might resort to releasing him. A post-June 1 cut would minimize the financial hit, with the final decision likely arriving before March 22 to give him opportunities in free agency.
Well, I'm pretty sure we're going to find out - because from a cap standpoint, they really can't trade him. Because of the way they've restructured Samuel's deal over the years, the 49ers would take on $31.55 million in dead money cap charges for 2025 if they traded Samuel.
Releasing Samuel before March 22 and designating him as a post-June 1 cut is the only reasonable way for the 49ers to go here. It would result in a dead cap hit of roughly $10.75 million this season.
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