Insider doubts 49ers’ Deebo Samuel would hold out of training camp?

Last week, ESPN’s Jeff Darlington suggested that San Francisco 49ers dual-threat offensive weapon and All-Pro selection Deebo Samuel may not report for the start of training camp on July 26 unless the sides come to some resolution regarding his situation. 

Samuel requested a trade ahead of this spring’s NFL draft and remains in the final year of his rookie contract. The 26-year-old hasn’t put pen to paper on an extension, and 49ers general manager John Lynch has let it be known on multiple occasions that he expects the team’s 2021 offensive most valuable player to stay put through at least this fall. 

Samuel attended the club’s mandatory minicamp last month but completed work on a side field instead of practicing, as ESPN’s Nick Wagoner noted. Per David Bonilla of 49ers WebZone, team insider Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area appeared on the KNBR “Murph & Mac” show on Thursday morning and explained why he believes Samuel will report to the club for training camp later this month. 

“I don’t see any reason why Deebo Samuel would not report because he would actually be subjecting himself to some pretty hefty fines,” Maiocco remarked. “I just don’t know what other option Deebo Samuel has. Even if he doesn’t want to play for the 49ers anymore, he’s a professional football player, and I just don’t see any way around it.

“I mean, the 49ers already heard the best offers that they got, and the best offers that they got would be at the first round or during the first round, or would be leading up to the first round of the NFL Draft. And the offers they heard, I think you, me, the 49ers, I think even Deebo Samuel would say, ‘Well jeez, I can understand why the 49ers didn’t take that offer.’

“So I just don’t know what choice he has other than to get fairly compensated, the 49ers come to the table with an offer that works for both sides, and Deebo Samuel is playing football for the 49ers this year.”

Samuel finished last season with 1,405 receiving yards, 365 rushing yards and 14 total offensive touchdowns. He recently teased via social media he could return to the club this summer, but his intentions remain unclear as of mid-July.