Graziano: Ricky Pearsall selection signals 49ers planning for a future without Deebo Samuel

Speculation swirled about wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk's future leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft. As the first round concluded, the rumors quieted. However, with wide receiver Ricky Pearsall selected at No. 31 overall, attention shifted to Deebo Samuel's future.

It's Saturday morning, and Aiyuk and Samuel remain on the 49ers roster. Their status for the upcoming season seems unchanged. Yet, beyond that, uncertainty looms.

ESPN's Dan Graziano delved into recent rumors surrounding the 49ers' receivers, suggesting that Pearsall's addition might indicate the team's preparation for a future without Samuel.

"First of all, my understanding is that the Niners would prefer to move Samuel, not Aiyuk," Graziano wrote. "Pearsall is more similar as a player to Samuel than he is to Aiyuk. Samuel is scheduled to earn nearly $21 million in salary and count more than $28.6 million against their salary cap in 2024. But in large part because of those numbers, Samuel is the more difficult of the two to trade.

"However, I've also been assured many times that the 49ers can carry both Aiyuk and Samuel on this season's team and that they've kept them both abreast of what's going on in terms of trade talks. So I think Samuel is more likely than Aiyuk to be traded, and carrying them (and their big cap numbers) on the roster for one more season is also a more likely outcome at this point than an Aiyuk trade. We'll see."

Dianna Russini of The Athletic reached out to Samuel to inquire about his reaction to the 49ers drafting a potential replacement and the reports of the team exploring trade options for him.

"I know what's going on, but it is what it is," Samuel responded. "I'm good staying with them. I'm chilling."

For now, the 49ers will proceed with their plans to sign Aiyuk to a contract extension and welcome Pearsall into the wide receiver corps.