There has been some chatter in recent days about the next wave of wide receivers that are going to be looking to land lucrative contracts. After seeing all of the movement this offseason, they are motivated to land some mega deals of their own. One team looking to add an elite wide receiver still is the Indianapolis Colts.
One of those wide receivers is Deebo Samuel of the San Francisco 49ers. Samuel had an incredible 2021 season, leading the league in yards per reception while turning into a hybrid of sorts, taking some of the backfield reps when the team was short-handed at the running back position.
After an injury-plagued 2020, Samuel put it all together last season. He caught 77 passes for 1,405 yards and six scores. He added 59 carries for 365 yards and another eight scores as one of the most impactful offensive players in the NFL.
Now, he is looking to get paid as such. A second-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft out of South Carolina, Samuel is entering the final season of his rookie contract. He is going to receive a significant raise on his next contract, but there is some debate as to who that will come from.
The 49ers don’t want to trade him, but they will likely listen to offers. Seeing the market for wide receivers this offseason, there will be plenty of teams interested in Samuel. One NFL insider believes that the Indianapolis Colts are one team that would make a lot of sense for him.
The Colts need another wide receiver opposite Michael Pittman Jr. Samuel would provide the team with a much-needed big-play threat, evident from the 18.2 yards per reception and 6.2 yards per rushing attempt last season.
A trio of Samuel, Pittman and Johnathan Taylor would be tough for opposing defenses to slow down. After what Matt Ryan has had to work with on the Atlanta Falcons the last few seasons, he would be in his glory with that trio to get the ball to.
But, the Colts could struggle to make a competitive offer for Samuel. They do not have a first-round pick in this year’s draft. They have only seven selections overall, five of which are in the fourth round or later. To make a competitive offer, Indianapolis will likely have to dip into future draft capital, which may not be as appealing to the 49ers as picks in this year’s draft.
Alas, they certainly have to at least throw their hat into the ring for Samuel. The need is there and anyone they select with their second or third-round pick in this year’s draft isn’t going to have the impact that Samuel would have on their offense.
