Deebo Samuel’s time with the San Francisco 49ers may come to an end during the 2025 NFL offseason, as the team is allowing the veteran receiver to seek a trade.
George Kittle knows the 49ers have depth and talent at receiver, but he still cautioned the team about moving on from Samuel.
‘You can’t really replace Deebo,’ Kittle told USA TODAY’s Mackenzie Salmon in a recent interview. ‘I think he’s one of the most unique players in the NFL because of what he can do.’
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Kittle described Samuel as one of the best yards-after-catch (YAC) receivers in the NFL along with himself. He also praised his long-time teammate for his versatility.
‘He’s so good when he gets the ball in his hands,’ Kittle said of Samuel. ‘The fact that you can line him up in the slot, out wide, in the backfield and do all the fun stuff with him and he breaks tackles, he runs like a running back and he has the burst, he has the speed, he has the agility to get away from guys too, he’s just such a unique player, so I don’t think you can really replace him.’
Kittle believes that the 49ers would ‘have to build their offense a little bit differently’ if Samuel is no longer with the team. He also noted that Brandon Aiyuk may not be ready for Week 1 as he returns from a torn ACL but expressed Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall have proven they are ready for bigger roles.
Kittle also opined Christian McCaffrey’s return would add an element to San Francisco’s offense that was missing for most of the 2024 season. McCaffrey played in just four games and 167 snaps while dealing with several injuries, including a season-ending PCL sprain.
Even so, Kittle believes it will be hard for anyone to fit the exact role Samuel played in the 49ers offense.
‘Deebo’s a hell of a football player,’ Kittle said. ‘I’ve loved being his teammate, I’ve loved sharing the field with him, I’ve loved going to war with him. If that is what happens and he gets traded, I’ll be very sad.’
‘At the same time, I’m always happy for guys to get opportunities and that’s all you can ask for in the NFL,’ he added. ‘But yes, Deebo’s one of my guys, and I always love playing with him.’