Arik Armstead: 49ers, Deebo Samuel situation will ‘work out’ with ‘a little patience’

Reports from as recently as Wednesday and even Thursday afternoon that claimed San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch were not keen on trading wantaway dual-threat All-Pro selection Deebo Samuel before or during the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft proved to be accurate. Samuel began Friday afternoon employed by the 49ers, and there is no indication his status will change before April comes to an end. 

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said his club was “in the mix” for a possible trade involving Samuel, but Rodgers also suggested the 49ers aren’t selling the 26-year-old in the final year of his rookie contract who recorded 1,770 yards from scrimmage and 14 touchdowns during the 2021 season. 

According to David Bonilla of 49ers WebZone, San Francisco star defensive end Arik Armstead told Peter Schrager of NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” on Friday he’s confident the club and Samuel can eventually resolve their differences. 

“Man, I love Deebo. I think the whole organization loves Deebo,” Armstead explained. “I haven’t been privy to the conversations with him, Kyle, and John, but I think they’ll get it figured out. He did so many amazing things for our team this year, and he should definitely be rewarded for that. And I think it’s going to happen.

“Sometimes, you can be a little impatient, and I’ve been in the situation too where I’m about to receive a big payday. You can get a little antsy and try to control that process. But I think, with a little patience, I think it’ll work out.”

Now that the draft’s first round has come and gone, logic suggests the 49ers won’t be trading Samuel unless they receive an offensive weapon in return. Whether or not San Francisco will offer him the $25 million per year he allegedly wants has yet to be seen.