If the 49ers were to trade Samuel after June 1, they would save more than $22 million against the cap.

Teams apparently have been calling the 49ers about the availability of a certain wide receiver, and it’s not Brandon Aiyuk, at least not yet.

The Baltimore Ravens recently called the 49ers and asked if they could trade for Deebo Samuel, according to Jason La Canfora, who said the 49ers’ answer was no, at least not now. Interesting answer.

It’s easy to see why the 49ers wouldn’t want to trade Samuel now. Trading him now would create less than $7 million in salary cap space and would create more than $21 million in dead cap. In addition, it’s unclear how high of a draft pick the 49ers would get in return for Samuel and his bloated contract, or if that draft pick would be better than Samuel next season when the 49ers are making another Super Bowl run. So there are three reasons not to trade Samuel now.

But if the 49ers were to trade Samuel after June 1, they would save more than $22 million against the cap. Of course, they couldn’t trade him for a 2024 draft pick at that time, but they could trade him for a player, perhaps at another position. An offensive lineman. A tight end. A cornerback. Because once the 49ers extend Brandon Aiyuk’s contract, do they really need two extremely expensive wide receivers when they pass the pass less than every other team in the league?

What does Brock Purdy need more: an expensive gadget player who isn’t quite a running back or a wide receiver, or a better offensive line?

Seems like the 49ers should explore a Samuel trade after June 1.