49ers' John Lynch on Deebo Samuel: 'I Can't Ever Imagine' Wanting to Trade WR

John Lynch is optimistic that the team can reach an accord with Deebo Samuel.

Lynch didn't offer specifics about what's happening behind the scenes in a press conference Monday, but affirmed the franchise's desire to retain the All-Pro.

Matt Barrows @mattbarrows

Lynch: "I can't ever imagine wanting to move on from Deebo. ... He's just too good of a player."

Nick Wagoner @nwagoner

#49ers GM John Lynch on if there are enough picks to trade Deebo Samuel... "We've been consistent since we've been here that we'd listen on just about anyone... but like I said I can't ever imagine moving on from Deebo... I've got nothing but love for the guy."

Mike Garafolo @MikeGarafolo

#49ers GM John Lynch says at his pre-draft press conference he won’t talk much about Deebo Samuel because those talks should remain private but said he’s “confident we can find the solutions to work through whatever is going on.”

Samuel was coming to a head with one way or the other. He is entering the final year of his contract, and he stands to get a significant pay raise after a monster season in which he had 1,770 yards from scrimmage and 14 touchdown.

After the 49ers traded Davante Adams and Tyreek Hill, a divorce between Samuel and the team wouldn't be a complete shock. His request for a trade almost had an air of inevitability.

There is more information coming out.

According to Ian Rapoport, Samuel simply wants to be elsewhere and didn't like his role in the offense.

Ian Rapoport @RapSheet

From NFL Now: For more than a week, the #49ers have been dealing with a major issue in their WRs room, as Deebo Samuel requested a trade. pic.twitter.com/PDuN2TsjHz

That was the thrust of a report from Tom Pelissero. Samuel wants to be a receiver and not a running back, according to Pelissero.

Rich Eisen Show @RichEisenShow

Deebo's trade request became public just after we hung up with @TomPelissero in our first hour so we had to call him back to explain what went wrong in San Francisco:#NFL #NFLDraft#FTTB pic.twitter.com/lveW0WP1fD

The 49ers have been dealing with Deebo Samuel's unhappiness for the past month or so, according to a report on SportsCenter.

"It's been very clear to them that Deebo wanted out, so they tried to do everything they possibly can to make him happy. He has remained adamant that he wants to be traded. This is a 49ers team that's still reluctant to do that deal. That being said, we're now inside the week of the NFL daft and if Deebo is going to be traded before the start of this season, these are the four days that it is most likely to happen. That is why there's so much urgency on this right now."

Lynch and Kyle Shanahan should be able to clarify Samuel's role and use him as a more traditional wideout.

One wonders what other factors are at play.

Mike Florio speculated that Samuel may not be enamored with the idea of playing in California. The Niners are stuck if that is the case.

Lynch may not want to move the team's best offensive player, but it could be out of the organization's hands.