If 49ers will listen Jaguars should be all in on Deebo Samuel

By Hays Carlyon

I don’t believe San Francisco will trade receiver Deebo Samuel, despite him asking to be moved.

However, Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke and coach Doug Pederson should absolutely pursue a deal. Make the 49ers say no.

The best way to do that: offer up something no other team can — the No. 1 pick.

There are a couple of elements to this. Should the Jaguars do it and can they financially work Samuel in with their salary-cap situation?

Let’s start with the former.

Samuel just turned 26 and is coming off a season in which he accounted for 2,061 yards of offense (1,559 receiving) with 16 touchdowns when you count the playoffs.

Samuel would have to agree to sign an extension with the Jaguars. You can’t give up the top pick for a rental. Assuming Samuel would sign long-term here, the Jaguars would have Samuel in the prime of his career over the next five seasons.

The players vying to be the top pick are all underwhelming compared to most draft classes. That list is led by Michigan edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, Alabama left tackle Evan Neal, Georgia defensive lineman Travon Walker and North Carolina State left tackle Ikem Ekwonu.

None of them are sure bets. Samuel absolutely is.

If the deal gets done, Samuel becomes the headliner in a receiving room that also features Christian Kirk, Zay Jones, Marvin Jones, Laquon Treadwell and Jamal Agnew. I would either include Laviska Shenault in the deal to the 49ers or trade him elsewhere.

That’s the kind of firepower second-year quarterback Trevor Lawrence should have around him. Add in running back Travis Etienne, as well as tight ends Evan Engram and Dan Arnold, and Lawrence starts to have an enviable supporting cast when he drops back to throw.

Giving up the top pick leaves the Jaguars with picks 33, 65 and 70, as well as 11 selections overall. They could still address edge at 33, interior offensive line at 65 and inside linebacker at 70.

So, how would the numbers work?

Samuel will be looking for a deal that averages at least $20 million per season.

The Jaguars currently have $7.4 million in cap space, according to spotrac.com.

The prerequisite to a Samuel trade would be getting left tackle Cam Robinson to agree to a contract extension. Robinson’s cap number for 2022 is $16.6 million. An extension could lower that number by $10 million.

The Jaguars also are budgeting $7.5 million for the No. 1 pick’s rookie cap figure. Samuel’s first-year cap number could come in at about that.

The Jaguars would then have enough money to sign the remainder of their draft class.

This can work.

The Jaguars should try to make it work.

I don’t know why the 49ers would honor Samuel’s request. However, I was also surprised Green Bay traded Davante Adams and shocked when Kansas City traded Tyreek Hill.

Make San Francisco say no.

No one can offer the draft position the Jaguars can.

Trevor to Deebo. Feel the electricity.

(You can email Hays at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @HaysCarlyon).