Lynch: 'Deebo will be part of the 49ers this season'

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch reaffirmed his intentions to retain Deebo Samuel.

"We haven't traded him, and I'd be a fool to trade him, so yes, Deebo will be part of the 49ers this season," Lynch said Wednesday night, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Samuel requested a trade in April, but Lynch and the 49ers haven't shown an interest in moving him.

The star wideout has been a no-show for voluntary OTAs, though head coach Kyle Shanahan expects him to rejoin the club for mandatory minicamp later this month.

Samuel's trade demand reportedly stems from his usage in Shanahan's offense, and he hasn't engaged in contract talks despite the 49ers' efforts.

The 26-year-old served as both a receiving and rushing threat last season. Samuel recorded a career-high 1,405 yards and six touchdowns in the air while adding 365 yards and eight scores on the ground. His 1,770 yards from scrimmage ranked third in the NFL.

Copyright (C) 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.