George Kittle Will Be 'Very Sad' if 49ers Trade Deebo Samuel amid NFL Rumors

George Kittle says he will be "very sad" if the San Francisco 49ers grant Deebo Samuel's trade request.

Samuel told ESPN's Adam Schefter earlier this month he had been granted permission to seek a trade after asking to leave the 49ers during postseason exit meetings.

"You can't really replace Deebo. I think he is one of the most unique players in the NFL because of what he can do," Kittle said in a conversation with USA TODAY Sports' Mackenzie Salmon (3:30 mark.) "One, he's the best YAC guy. Besides myself, I'll hype myself up, I'm pretty good at that too. But he's so good at when he gets the ball in his hands. ... I don't think you can really replace him. We're just going to have to build our offense a little bit differently, because we don't have that available to us.

"Deebo's a hell of a football player. 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 is traded, I'll be very sad. But at the same time, I'm always happy for guys to get opportunities, and that's all you can ask for in the NFL."

Samuel, who spent the 2024 season as a third target for Brock Purdy behind Jauan Jennings and Kittle, expressed some frustration throughout the campaign about his usage by the Niners.

After making just one catch for 11 yards during a Week 5 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, Samuel wrote in a since-deleted post on X, “Not struggling at all just not getting the ball!!!!!!!”

When asked about the post the next day, Samuel answered: "You read what you read. A little frustrated for sure."

When his trade request was granted months later, Samuel said in a statement shared by Schefter that he was "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."

Samuel has requested a trade from the Niners before, when he was negotiating his next contract after a career-best 1,405-receiving yard campaign in 2021. The 49ers eventually worked out a three-year, $71.5 million deal to keep him in San Francisco.

This time, with Samuel having recorded 670 receiving yards while averaging a career-low 3.4 catches per game, the Niners may be more likely to grant his trade request.

In addition to the changes to the 49ers' offensive structure mentioned by Kittle, a potential Samuel trade could hugely impact the team's cap going forward. The Niners will owe him $15.4 million if he is on the roster by March 22, but they'd take on a $31.55 million dead cap hit by trading him before June 1, per Spotrac and Over the Cap.