We’re about a month away from the start of the new NFL league year and we can expect all kinds of wild and crazy rumors to clog social media for the next few weeks and months. But one recent rumor has been quickly shot down.
Appearing on NBC Sports Boston, SI NFL insider Albert Breer dismissed a recent rumor that the New England Patriots were interested in trading for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel. Breer said that he spoke to someone close to the situation in San Francisco who said that he’s not available and that nobody has even bothered calling.
“I checked in with somebody who’d absolutely know on this and they said, ‘A) we’re not trading him, and B) they haven’t called,'” Breer said, via NBC Sports Boston.
Samuel had a breakout season in 2021, earning Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors while leading the league in yards per catch. But he fell back down to earth a bit in 2022, finishing the year without half as many total yards and five total touchdowns.
There’s little denying that the New England Patriots need a big-time wide receiver to bolster their roster right now. Since Tom Brady’s departure, the Patriots haven’t had a 1,000-yard receiver and their passing attack has been average at best.
If the Patriots want to get back to having sustained success, they need at least one legit playmaker that isn’t catching passes out of the backfield.
But that playmaker won’t be Deebo Samuel.