Ex-NFL LB explains why 49ers shouldn't reunite with familiar face
· Yahoo Sports
Veteran receiver Deebo Samuel's former teammates want him back with the San Francisco 49ers. One analyst doesn't think that's a good idea, though.
Former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho laid out a roster-construction argument against a reunion on an episode of "Speakeasy," regardless of what Samuel still has left in the tank. Acho's issue isn't talent — it's where Samuel would actually fit on the current 49ers roster behind — at minimum — Mike Evans and Ricky Pearsall.
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"When you construct the roster, Deebo would now be the third receiver in San Fran. Probably the third. That third receiver has to play special teams. You want to know who's not playing special teams nor should? Deebo Samuel," Acho said. "I'm also not gonna stunt the growth of first-round pick, third-year player, Ricky Pearsall for Deebo Samuel. Is Deebo talented? Duh, but he's had probably more 700-yard seasons than he's had 1,000-yard seasons."
Samuel has cracked 1,000 receiving yards in a season exactly once — 1,405 yards in his 2021 All-Pro campaign — with the rest of his career settling closer to the 700-to-900-yard range, including 727 yards on 72 catches with Washington last season.
Acho's larger argument centered on special teams. He pointed to his own experience in Philadelphia, where adding a veteran receiver who was no longer a true No. 1 or 2 threw off the roster's special-teams balance, since younger, cheaper players at the same spot are normally the ones covering kicks and returns. Applied to San Francisco, that would mean shifting either Samuel or a more established veteran into a role Acho argued doesn't fit a player of his standing.
The other issue, similar to the Pearsall one, that Acho didn't even mention was second-round rookie De'Zhaun Stribling's development. Right now, Stribling is, at best, the third receiver on the roster behind Evans and Pearsall but ahead of Christian Kirk and Jacob Cowing. To boot, Kirk and Cowing (and Pearsall) are all probably special teams returners, too. This leaves little room for Samuel as an integral part of the offense in 2026 at age 30.
The counterpoint, at least from inside the building, is player sentiment. Fullback Kyle Juszczyk and tight end George Kittle both publicly courted Samuel on social media this month, with Juszczyk offering him "a guest house" and Kittle calling his spot "Deebo's second home." Both spent years lined up alongside Samuel and clearly haven't ruled out a reunion, even if the roster fit Acho describes remains a real obstacle.
Samuel, who spent six seasons with the 49ers before a one-year stint in Washington, remains an unrestricted free agent with training camps already underway.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Ex-NFL LB explains why 49ers shouldn't reunite with familiar face