Dismantling myths surrounding potential Deebo Samuel trade

Deebo Samuel's trade request has created a lot of misconceptions about the availability of the 49ers' superstar wideout.

The wildest offseason in NFL history continued unabated this week when news surfaced that third-year receiver Deebo Samuel requested a trade from the San Francisco 49ers. Samuel, who served as the offensive catalyst for the 49ers' run to the NFC Championship Game this past season, could become the latest superstar to switch teams over the past month and change.

But while the friction between Samuel and the 49ers has now reached the public sphere, the discourse around his situation remains largely superficial, drowning out the more important questions surrounding the young superstar. How much leverage does Samuel have over San Francisco? What can the team realistically extract in a trade? Does a trade even have to occur? And if the 49ers do trade him, can the Green Bay Packers or another NFC title contender enter the fray?

With so many misconceptions already circulating about a potential Samuel trade, let's dismantle some myths.

Myth: Samuel will garner substantially more in trade than other star receivers

At least so far, the 49ers have followed the playbook for how to handle a disgruntled star looking to leave town. Shortly after news leaked that Samuel had asked for a trade — a request that actually occurred weeks ago, according to sources familiar with the situation — the team made sure to signal a sky-high asking price.