Could 49ers find immediate Deebo Samuel replacement with 2025 NFL draft prospect?

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Replacing wide receiver Deebo Samuel isn't going to be easy for the San Francisco 49ers. He's one of the most uniquely gifted players at his position, and since he stepped into the NFL in 2019 teams have unsuccessfully been trying to find players who can replicate his do-everything style.

The 49ers may be ready to move on from having a Swiss Army knife in their receiving corps. If they're looking for an immediate replacement, however, a wide receiver in this year's draft class may be up to the task of replicating Samuel's 'wideback' duties.

In his '2025 NFL Draft confidential' column, the Athletic's Bruce Feldman spoke to an NFL wide receivers coach who believes TCU WR Savion Williams is the player best suited to take on a Samuel-like role in an offense.

Via the Athletic:

The other wildcard prospect who NFL receiver coaches think is more similar to Samuel is TCU’s Savion Williams, a 6-4, 222-pound former quarterback who ran a 4.48 40 in Indianapolis and rushed for 322 yards, averaging over six yards a carry, and ran for six touchdowns to go with 60 catches for 611 yards and six receiving TDs. Williams was 3-for-3 as a passer in 2024 for 22 yards and another touchdown.

“To me, he’s more like Deebo. You question whether he can run routes well enough to win consistently, but he’s got enough hands. He’s a bit of a body catch, but he is so rugged with the ball in his hands and hard to tackle. If he goes to the right place, he might be one of those who takes off.”

There are certainly some stylistic differences between Williams and Samuel given the size discrepancy between the pair. Williams taking off as a player once he was incorporated into the running game is certainly intriguing, though.

The 49ers and head coach Kyle Shanahan wouldn't be able to just drop him into the Samuel spot in their playbook. They'd have to make some tweaks to ensure what they're doing offensively fits Williams' skill set.

Finding the next Deebo Samuel hasn't been easy for NFL teams, but there's no team better equipped to potentially find and maximize that player than the 49ers. It wouldn't be a surprise if Williams is one of their selections on Day 2 or 3 of the draft.

This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 2025 NFL draft: Savion Williams draws Deebo Samuel comparison

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