The 2022 NFL Draft came and went and Deebo Samuel is still a San Francisco 49er. But the self-proclaimed “wide-back” remains steadfast in his demand to move on. On Sunday morning, Bleacher Report tweeted that, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Samuel is “dug in” on leaving San Francisco. And despite claims by the 49ers front office that they won't acquiesce to Samuel's demands, the do-it-all Samuel is willing to wait it out. Fowler said Deebo knows the process could “drag out for a while,” but he's not changing his request.

Samuel, who is eligible for a contract extension, wants to be a pure wide receiver. But the 49ers are hesitant to stop using him in a one-of-a-kind role. Samuel caught 77 passes for 1,405 yards in 2021, good for a league best 18.2 yards per catch. But Samuel also added 365 yards rushing and eight touchdowns on 59 carries. The 49ers want to continue to utilize Samuel in the running game. But the first-team All Pro wants to go back to a traditional wide receiver role.

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Samuel's motivation behind his desire to maintain a wide receiver status is unclear. It may stem from the massive pay differences between receivers and running backs. Or it might just be a desire to limit the punishment taken when running between the tackles. Either way, Samuel's relationship with the 49ers brass is clearly fractured. And while San Francisco seems determined to avoid moving their star offensive weapon, Deebo Samuel is standing by his trade request.