The San Francisco 49ers‘ head coach is navigating the intricate dance of retaining talent while maintaining financial flexibility. Despite bottling a potential Deebo Samuel trade, as NFL insider Albert Breer articulates on The Rich Eisen Show, “They’ve done such a good job drafting and developing… dealing with the last five years or so like this just bottleneck of contracts at the top of their books.”

Shanahan’s approach echoes the DeForest Buckner saga, where the 49ers traded the All-Pro to the Colts, opting for continuity by extending Eric Armstead‘s deal. Breer’s insights illuminate Shanahan’s modus operandi of building around a core group, as he notes, “They viewed Eric Armstead as being more signable.”

Now, Shanahan faces a similar dilemma with Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk. Breer suggests Shanahan’s inclination to extend Aiyuk, the budding star, over Samuel, who inked a lucrative 3-year, $71,550,000 extension in 2022. As Breer observes, “I think they would keep Brandon Aiyuk over Deebo Samuel… Brandon Aiyuk is more of a traditional number one receiver.”

The weight of expectations looms, as Deebo acknowledges Aiyuk’s pressure, stating to reporters this week, “I know this is a stressful time.” Shanahan remains focused, admitting, “That stuff takes time… but now, especially with guys in practices, minicamp stuff, I don’t ask about it at all.”

Despite bottling a potential Deebo trade, Breer opines Shanahan’s endgame balances talent and prudence, noting, “If somebody comes along and offers a first-round pick for [Deebo Samuel]… part of the equation has to be that means we can get a really good player on our roster at cost control for four or five years and that’ll help us manage the numbers at the top of our cap sheets.”

On another note, the Justin Jefferson recent signing is creating ripples in the market which can also affect the Samuel-Aiyuk Saga.

Effect of Jefferson’s mega-deal on Samuel’s trade and the NFL landscape

Jefferson’s groundbreaking $140 million extension with the Minnesota Vikings has sent shockwaves throughout the NFL, reshaping the entire salary landscape. With a staggering $35 million per season average, Jefferson’s deal shatters the receiver market norms and challenges traditional positional value hierarchies, essentially equating him to a top-tier quarterback in terms of compensation.

This seismic shift has far-reaching implications, as elite wideouts like Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase and Dallas’ CeeDee Lamb are now poised to demand similar lucrative paydays. For the San Francisco 49ers, Jefferson’s mega-deal could potentially bottle their plans to extend Aiyuk, whose stock has soared and whose extension demands are likely to escalate significantly.

The ripple effect extends beyond just the receiver position, with potentially eight or more wideouts carrying an annual average salary of at least $25 million per season in the near future. This financial upheaval means that offensive tackles, defensive ends, and cornerbacks–the traditional “big four” highest-paid positions–will also face a transformative impact as they negotiate new contracts.

Moreover, Jefferson’s deal sheds light on the implications for aging veterans like Stefon Diggs, Keenan Allen, and Amari Cooper, who are set to hit free agency in 2025. As evidenced by DeAndre Hopkins’ two-year, $26 million deal with the Titans in 2023 at age 31, these veteran wideouts could potentially secure one last lucrative short-term contract if they prove they still have enough tread left on the tires.

The aftershocks of Jefferson’s deal will reverberate throughout the league, forcing teams to recalibrate their financial strategies and potentially reshaping the very fabric of roster construction. With aging veterans like Trent Williams and George Kittle’s rising cap hits looming for the 49ers, franchises will need to leverage every asset to keep their championship window open, even if it means parting ways with foundational pieces like Samuel.