The top three landing spots for 49ers All-Pro Deebo Samuel in a potential 2024 NFL Draft trade

Deebo Samuel's San Francisco 49ers career could be about to come an unexpected end.

After trade speculation concerning both Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, The San Francisco Chronicle's Mike Silver posted on Friday that, following the 49ers' selection of Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, it is Samuel who is likely to be traded.

Any team interested in trading for the All-Pro would need to have the day two draft capital the 49ers likely desire and enough cap space to fit a contract that pays Samuel a base salary of $20.9 million in 2024 on their books. Here, I look at three potential candidates

New England Patriots

Owning picks 34 and 68 on day two, the Patriots certainly have the ammunition that would tempt the 49ers and, with over $54 million in cap space at their disposal, they have the necessary financial flexibility.

A trade would reunite Samuel with former 49ers wide receiver Kendrick Bourne and add a dynamic and versatile weapon to an offense that is sorely lacking them as the Patriots welcome a new quarterback, Drake Maye, to the fold.

Landing Samuel would be the perfect way for the Patriots to set up Maye up for success early in his career. If the 49ers are actively trying to move Samuel, the Patriots should be very interested in those overtures.

Washington Commanders

There's an obvious connection here. Adam Peters, who was in the 49ers' front office when Samuel was drafted back in 2019, is now running the show for the Commanders, who hold picks 36, 40, 67, 78 and 100 on day two.

Washington has the second-most cap space in the NFL behind the Patriots with $43.4 million at their disposal.

The Commanders already have an excellent receiver in Terry McLaurin. After him, however, only Jahan Dotson had over 500 receiving yards last year among the receivers on the depth chart. McLaurin and Samuel would form one of the better receiver duos in the league and put second overall pick Jayden Daniels in an excellent position to succeed in year one.

Los Angeles Chargers

Dealing Samuel to the Chargers would be a big gift to former 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh as he attempts to lead Los Angeles to prominence in the same way he did San Francisco.

Harbaugh faced questions about a lack of weapons for Justin Herbert and his offense after they selected Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt fifth overall instead of taking LSU's Malik Nabers. This move would end those questions.

The Chargers have very little at receiver having dealt Keenan Allen to the Chicago Bears and parted with Mike Williams, though they'll hope for better from Quentin Johnston after last year's first-round pick endured an unconvincing rookie season. 

Samuel's addition would lessen the need for Justin Herbert to play hero ball and, with the Chargers possessing $30.6 million in cap space and picks 37 and 69 on day two, they have the room to absorb Samuel's contract and the ammunition to make the move. A switch to Southern California could be on the cards for Samuel.