The frontrunner for the 2025 NFL Comeback Player of the Year shared some great times with Deebo Samuel while in a 49ers uniform. Christian McCaffrey was asked about a potential return for the “wideback,” and wasn’t shy about his feelings towards Deebo. Kay Adams asked McCaffrey about Samuel, but any potential reunion would be a bit complicated, considering how the receiver asked his way out of town.
“Deebo’s one of my favorite guys I’ve ever played with,” McCaffrey told Kay Adams on Up & Adams on Thursday. “We all love Deebo. Our whole staff loves Deebo. All of the players on the team love Deebo. We love Deebo.”
When asked by Adams if Samuel would be welcomed back following his trade request, McCaffrey replied simply, “I think, yeah, there’s no question that he would be welcomed back.”
With the departure of Brandon Aiyuk and the potential departure of Jauan Jennings, there is no doubt the 49ers will add to the receiver position, either in free agency or the draft, or both. McCaffrey went on to explain Samuel’s presence and effect on the 49ers’ offense.
“He has such good energy,” McCaffrey said. “He’s somebody that, when the ball’s in his hands, you can see, a lot of times, the fear in defenses. And he was such a great component to our offense because you can get him the ball in so many different ways.
“He’s like an enforcer on the offense, in ways. He’ll run through your face, he can catch the ball, he can run the ball, he can run any route in the route tree, and if you want to tackle him, it comes with consequences. So he’s just a great guy to have on your team, and I appreciated the time I got to play with him.”
The question is more about Samuel’s wear and tear and whether the 49ers would take a step back to bring him back to the offense when the receiver group needs more juice and speed to compete in the NFC West. Samuel’s 2021 season was magnificent. Anytime the 49ers needed a play, number 19 had the ball.
That was five seasons ago. I love Deebo also, but I wouldn’t rush to bring him back as a main piece.
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