San Francisco 49ers consider offensive options for newly signed Deebo Samuel, 'a special player'

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San Francisco 49ers wideout Deebo Samuel signed a three-year contract extension on Monday that will keep him with the team for the foreseeable future.

Will the Niners continue to use Samuel in the "wide back" hybrid role that elevated him to first team All- Pro status last season?

The shape that takes will depend on a number of factors.

"I think it's based off of things that happen," he said. If we wanted to move Deebo to running back that would have been something that we would have told you about. It's not possible to do that with anyone. If you want to do that, you have to do it with a special player. He's earned this contract and I think he's going to keep earning it.

The three-year extension will be worth up to $73.5 million and include $58.1 million in guarantees. Samuel can get incentives if he performs that dual role at the same rate of production as 2021.

According to sources, Samuel could earn up to $1.95 million over the course of his contract if he meets certain criteria.

Each season, Samuel can make $650,000 if he has at least 400 rushing yards. He can earn $150,000 in bonuses if he scores at least three rushing touchdown in a season. He can't make more than a total of $650,000 per season or more than $1 million over the life of the contract for these rushing incentives.

Samuel had his most productive rushing season as a pro in 2021, when he racked up 361 yards and eight touchdown, which makes the total rushing unlikely to be earned for salary cap purposes.

It was thought that Samuel wanted to cut down on rushing attempts because he was unhappy with his role. The two of them were on the exact same page when it came to usage.

Samuel will figure prominently into the plans in whatever way is necessary to help the 49ers win depending on the opponent, what they see on film, and the 53-man roster.

Deebo is capable of doing anything when he is healthy and able to practice. "That's why he's helped us so much to win, whether it's in the pass game or the run game or whether it's blocking or throwing." When you have guys who can do a lot of things, you want to keep them doing them.

After signing his contract, Samuel joined his teammates in practice for the first time this season, a session that also happened to be the team's first padded workout of camp.

The Niners kept Samuel on a snap count and increased his workload because it was his first practice. Samuel made a couple of catches for the backup quarterback, who was making big gains.

Trent Williams, a close friend of Samuel, said there was a noticeable energy boost from having him back.

"You watch what he does receiving wise, you watch what he does rushing wise, you watch the spark plug that he is for the team." We're not just coming out of the locker room for show. The locker room is like that. The boom box is next to his locker. He is that type of person and that is why he is important to this organization.