Colts would probably have to trade a player if they want Deebo Samuel
If the Indianapolis Colts want to land Deebo Samuel in a trade they will likely have to part with one of their talented players.
After an offseason of rumors and social media messages, it has been reported that Deebo Samuel has officially requested a trade from the San Francisco 49ers.
This is the latest development in an offseason that has seen several wide receivers moved and paid big money and it looks like Samuel will be next.
Considering Deebo’s ability, there are likely plenty of teams that will be interested in acquiring him and even more teams that could benefit from having him. The Indianapolis Colts are definitely a team that should be interested.
Breaking News: I just spoke to wide receiver Deebo Samuel — and he told me that he has asked the 49ers to trade him.
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) April 20, 2022
He did not want to discuss specific reasons behind his request, but he has indeed let the 49ers know his desire to leave the organization. More to come.
What will it take for Colts to acquire Deebo Samuel?
Samuel is coming off his third season in the NFL and is just 26 years old. Last season, Samuel caught 77 passes for 1,405 yards and six touchdowns while adding 365 yards on the ground and an additional eight touchdowns.
He was selected to the Pro Bowl and First-team All-Pro. A player of that caliber will certainly command a package of picks that will include a first-rounder.
One problem for the Colts, if they’re interested, is that they don’t have a first-round pick in this year’s Draft. Indy gave that up when they traded for Carson Wentz a year ago.
However, there are always multiple ways to get a trade done. The reason first-round picks are so valued is that it’s the best bet at landing an elite player.
But, the Colts already have several proven elite players. That means Indy could probably include one of its players in a trade package to bring Deebo Samuel to Indianapolis.
What player could Colts trade for Deebo Samuel?
If we’re talking about a player in place of a first-round pick, the player has to be elite. That means it would be between Indy’s veteran stars: Darius Leonard, Quenton Nelson, Kenny Moore, DeForest Buckner, and Jonathan Taylor.
Indy sending Buckner back to San Francisco seems unlikely and the 49ers have Fred Warner so they probably wouldn’t be interested in Darius Leonard. Additionally, Jonathan Taylor is probably the last player Indy would trade.
That leaves Quenton Nelson and Kenny Moore. Both players have proven themselves as elite in the NFL and they also would address needs for San Francisco.
The 49ers need to improve at guard and in the defensive backfield, so Moore or Nelson may be intriguing pieces to help get Samuel to Indy.
The question then becomes if Indianapolis is willing to part with one of its young stars for Samuel in addition to offering Samuel a massive extension.
The Colts will soon have to extend Nelson so if he is moved for Samuel that would make the contract decision easier. Also, earlier in the offseason, at the Combine, Chris Ballard made clear that no Colts player was untouchable in trade talks.
So will Indianapolis make a run at Deebo Samuel if it means parting ways with one of the team’s young stars? Everyone has to wait and see if Ballard will pull off another big move this offseason.
