San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel is in the final year of his rookie contract.
He will receive a base salary of $3,986,000 and has a $4.8 million cap hit.
That’s a tremendous bargain considering his performance of 1,405 yards and six touchdowns last season.
However, he will become a highly-desired wideout because of his versatility.
Former offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel made him a vital part of their running attack, leading him to score eight rushing touchdowns.
He will command a high value if he has the same, if not better, numbers in 2022.
But the former South Carolina standout might have subtly shared the annual pay he wants, as pointed out by Pro Football Focus’ Ari Meirov.
“If it ain’t 25M a year we don’t want it!! 💰”
– Liked by Deebo Samuel. pic.twitter.com/XnU123NUww
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) April 13, 2022
Meirov shared a screenshot of an Instagram post by Victory Restaurants owner and NFL agent Ricardo Young with the caption, “If it ain’t 25M a year we don’t want it!”
Samuel, a.k.a 19problemz, liked this post and also commented the word “slime.”
It could mean many things, and one of those could be Samuel’s approval of how Young shared the statement.
Is Samuel Worth $25 Million?
The escalating wide receiver market means that $25 million a year puts Samuel in the top tier but lower than Tyreek Hill‘s $30 million annual average value.
But to have the leverage come negotiations for a contract extension, Samuel must repeat or surpass his output during the 2021 season.
Hill and Davante Adams have had multiple seasons of 1,000 receiving yards, not to mention First-Team All-Pro selections.
Several wide receivers had had one great season before crashing back to normal.
If $25 million is what he wants, Samuel must continue to prove that he’s worth that money, especially now that the coach that helped him thrive is with another team.
NEXT: 49ers Staying Patient With Trey Lance Doesn't Make Him A Bust