Star wide receiver Deebo Samuel recently requested a trade from the San Francisco 49ers, but what enticing packages could the Carolina Panthers put together?
The Carolina Panthers’ wide receiving core, led by D.J. Moore and Robby Anderson, seems to be set at the moment. However, anything can change on a dime in the NFL, especially if a player of the caliber of Deebo Samuel winds up being made available.
On April 20, the multi-talented receiver decided to request a trade from the San Francisco 49ers. He is due for a new contract, and reports are that he wants to go back to being used as a prototypical wideout rather than being used as a running back, too.
On NFL Live, the day Samuel requested his trade, Adam Schefter speculated that a part of the former South Carolina product’s desire for a trade is that he may want to return closer to home.
There is not a city in the NFL closer to South Carolina than Charlotte. And Samuel grew up near the Raleigh area.
However, in a recent Instagram story by Samuel, he seemed to laugh at the Schefter speculation. The player is probably indifferent to where he plays, and turning out in familiar surroundings is a non-factor in his trade request.
At the end of the day, professional players want to play for a team and fanbase that respects them and appreciates their talent. According to Samuel in an Instagram live stream earlier in April, 49ers fans sent death threats and racial slurs to him. That is likely a larger factor.
According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, San Francisco has “zero intention” to trade their star wide receiver this offseason. But teams have said these things in the past and still traded players away, especially if they receive a monumental offer.
No matter what the Panthers do in this scenario, they will have to include the No. 6 overall selection to acquire Samuel.
Not only this, but the Panthers might also need to trade a player like Christian McCaffrey, Brian Burns, or Donte Jackson for Samuel. Something that would leave them short in other areas.
Even still, The All-Pro receiver is one of the premier talents at the position. Samuel and Moore together would be game-changing, and any new quarterback Carolina has would have two superstar receivers to throw the ball to.
Without further ado, here are three hypothetical trade packages that the Panthers could offer for Samuel if San Francisco started taking calls.