Terrell Owens says 49ers dropped the ball with star WR duo

The San Francisco 49ers have explored the possibility of trading both of their star wide receivers — Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel — this offseason.

And if there’s anyone who can relate to what both receivers are going through right now it’s Terrell Owens, who went through a similar situation with in San Francisco back in 2003.

Owens voiced his displeasure with the way the team tried trading him to the Baltimore Ravens without a heads up before he ultimately ended up joining the Philadelphia Eagles, and he said during a recent appearance on 95.7 The Game’s “The Morning Roast” that Aiyuk and Samuel should be equally ticked off with the organization.

“Absolutely, I’d be [expletive] off [if I was them],” Owens said. “… Those guys have the right, the prerogative to feel the way they feel given why they’re there, given opportunities that they probably didn’t have going into that Super Bowl.”

To Owens’ point, both receivers were underused in their 25-22 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII in February.

Aiyuk, who led the team in receptions (75), yards (1,342) and touchdowns (seven) during the regular season, caught just three passes for 49 yards in the loss. Conversely, Samuel, who had 60 receptions, 892 yards and seven touchdowns in the regular season, finished with just three receptions for 33 yards.

“Should they have gotten a little bit more plays here and there?” Owens questioned. “Could Deebo have been used utilized a little bit more? … When you think about Aiyuk and how they lost that game, a few more opportunities here and there, then the outcome may have been a little bit different.”

The star duo’s lack of production in the Super Bowl wasn’t for a lack of trying, however. Aiyuk and Samuel were targeted a combined 17 times and only caught six of those targets.

Aiyuk is entering the final year of his contract and 49ers general manager John Lynch has been adamant the team wants to sign him to a long-term deal. 

Samuel is under contract for two more seasons, but he’s been the subject of trade speculation to make room for Aiyuk’s new salary increase.