The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports that the 49ers will get back a fifth round pick in the deal. Quarterback Jayden Daniels led the team to the postseason in his rookie year, doing so with an all-new coaching staff to boot. The team now adds a veteran “Queen chess piece” in Samuel, a player that is capable of adding numerous layers to an offense already one of the more dynamic units in the league. The addition of Samuel is likely to generate more one-on-one matchups for Terry McLaurin on the perimeter, boosting the fantasy expectations of both players in the process. Brandon Aiyuk has also been rumored to be a potential trade candidate out of San Francisco this offseason, but he would stand to benefit should he remain in the bay area. As too would veteran tight end George Kittle, the latter of whom has held drastic splits with Samuel on and off the field the previous three seasons.

That is of particular intrigue considering his hands measured 8 6/8 inches at the senior bowl, something that sparked some level of controversy with the measurement coming in below the magical 9-inch mark for quarterbacks. Milroe’s draft stock seems to be on the rise during the weekend of the combine, regardless of how his hands grew in just a few short weeks.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported a deal was in the works less than an hour ago and now the ink is dry. Jackson was set to be a free agent in a few weeks, but the Rams weren’t going to let a young left tackle hit the open market. Per FOX NFL’s Jordan Schultz, the extension includes $35 million guaranteed. Jackson took over as LA’s starting left tackle two years ago and took another step forward last year, cracking Pro Football Focus’s top 20 graded tackles. He is now under contract through 2027.

The Rams just finalized a deal to keep Matthew Stafford in town, taking what was likely the Giants’ top target at quarterback off the board. New York also holds the third overall pick in the draft. That gives them a shot at landing a quarterback, though the Titans and Browns both have a similar need and pick ahead of the G-Men. With the Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen brain trust on the hot seat heading into 2025, a veteran quarterback who is already a known commodity might be their preferred route this offseason. However, it’s hard to shake the “but it might work for us” vibes of a desperate New York regime hanging their hopes on a declining Rodgers. The Giants will explore all options at quarterback, which means Sam Darnold, Russell Wilson, and Kirk Cousins should be on the list as well.

According to Schultz, talks over a trade have progressed recently, leaving us to wonder how soon a deal could actually get done. He adds that the Steelers and Broncos “also checked in” on a potential trade for the star receiver, but said the Commanders and Texans “are believed to be the most aggressive.” It goes without saying that both teams could use an upgrade at receiver. The Commanders have no receiver of note on the roster after Terry McLaurin, and with Tank Dell’s (knee) availability already in question for next season and Stefon Diggs unlikely to return, Samuel would make for a strong WR2 opposite Nico Collins. Samuel is a near lock to get traded this offseason after the 49ers said they would grant his wish to be moved earlier this month. Samuel’s 670 receiving yards last season marked his fewest since an injury-shortened 2022, when he appeared in just 13 games. He’s played in 15 games each of the last two seasons and has also been a regular contributor on the ground in Kyle Shanahan’s offense. Samuel has one year left on his current deal and will likely require an extension from whatever team acquires him, which only adds to the cost to acquire former First-Team All-Pro.

The New Heights page posted a video depicting Kelce’s image over Jordan Belfort’s head in the iconic scene from The Wolf of Wall Street where Belfort not so subtly announces he’s “not leaving” the company. You know the scene. Kelce’s return was reported earlier by Pat McAfee, who read a text from an unnamed source — which was very clearly Kelce — that said, “I’m coming back for sure.” By his standards, Kelce had a down 2024. While we wouldn’t expect him to bounce back to his old form, he should still have plenty to offer as a reliable option in the passing game. His fantasy value is up in the air at this point, as Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy look more likely to be high-usage targets than Kelce in the regular season.

Watson re-tore his Achilles in January and is expected to miss “significant time” next season. What Watson was doing at the time of his injury was of interest to the Browns, as anything outside the scope of his rehab and recovery may have created an out for them when it comes to the remaining money on his contract. Watson is owed $92 million in guaranteed money over the next two seasons. There’s a very real chance he never plays another snap for the Browns again.

Jenkins was a fourth-round pick of the Chargers back in 2017 and joined the Seahawks on a two-year contract last offseason. Jenkins started nine of the 13 games he appeared in for the Seahawks last season, totaling 53 tackles, two sacks, and one fumble recovery that he returned 102 yards for a score. Jenkins carries a $7.780 million cap hit next season, but can be cut for a savings of $5.280 million. Seattle would only take on a dead cap hit of $2.5 million if they do release Jenkins, meaning there’s a good chance his days with the Seahawks are done whether it’s by trade or release. At 31 years old, Jenkins days as an every-down starter may be coming to an end, but he could be reasonable depth on a different team.

This news came in an email that was sent to ProFootballTalk on Thursday morning. It is easy to believe Tom Brady would bend some rules based on how his playing career went, but it was reported nearly a week ago that the Rams granted Stafford and his agent permission to speak to other teams. Stafford reportedly met with Brady to discuss a potential fit in Vegas, but whether that was an arranged meeting or a one that occurred out of happenstance is open to interpretation. The Raiders aren’t the only team being connected to Stafford, as the Giants are also rumored to be “firmly on the table.” This situation remains wait-and-see for the time being.

Speaking at Wednesday’s press conference, Lynch said McCaffrey was “doing really well” in his recovery from the Achilles tendinitis and PCL injuries that limited him to just four games last season. McCaffrey will be 29 at the start of next season, and his injury-plagued 2024 only serves as a reminder for how quickly a running back’s career can go sideways. While he’s expected to serve as the 49ers’ RB1 if healthy, the Niners need to figure out what to do at the position outside of McCaffrey. Explosive second-year player Isaac Guerendo spent a lot of last year hurt, and last year’s leading rusher, Jordan Mason ended last year on IR and could draw interest as a restricted free agent. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the 49ers address running back via the draft or free agency. CMC appears to be on the path toward a return as Plan A for the 49ers next season.