49ers Eye Reunion with Record-Setting Ex-Pro Bowl Receiver

The San Francisco 49ers have made a significant move this offseason by signing Mike Evans, the former star wide receiver of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, to a three-year contract worth $42.4 million. As the team braces for the potential departure of Brandon Aiyuk, who has had a tumultuous six-year tenure with the franchise, they may turn their attention to a familiar face who could make an immediate impact.

According to CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell, reuniting with a standout 29-year-old All-Pro receiver, known for being the first wideout to achieve both 20 touchdown receptions and rushing touchdowns in a single season, seems like a logical choice. Podell mentions, “Deebo Samuel lost a step in 2025, and he also battled through quarterback instability,” highlighting that Samuel recorded a career-low average of just 10.1 yards per reception last season.

Podell further notes, “Samuel isn't the same bulldozing Swiss Army knife that once served as the focal point of Kyle Shanahan's San Francisco 49ers offense,” suggesting that while Samuel still possesses valuable skills, his performance has not mirrored his prime years. He pointed out that Samuel's two lowest averages for receiving yards per game were recorded in 2024 and 2025, at 44.7 and 45.4, respectively.

Despite some decline, Podell believes Samuel could still excel if he returns to San Francisco, a place where he thrived early in his career. During the 2021-22 season, Samuel posted an impressive 77 receptions for 1,405 yards and added 365 rushing yards, totaling 14 touchdowns. However, since being traded to the Commanders for a fifth-round pick last offseason, his performance has waned.

Reintegrating Samuel into the 49ers' lineup might be the key to rejuvenating his dynamic playing style, offering a potential boost to a team seeking to maintain its competitive edge in the league.