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49ers' Failed Attempt at Signing $44 Million Pro Bowler Revealed

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nate Lunak | Last updated Apr 22, 2025 11:37 AM ET

The San Francisco 49ers have undergone some major changes this offseason, with one of the biggest being the trade of wide receiver Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders for a 2025 fifth-round pick.

Of course, Samuel was coming off a down year, accumulating just 51 receptions, 670 yards and three touchdowns, but it still left a big hole in San Francisco's offense for 2025.

They would try to fix it by signing free agent Davante Adams, but while speaking with Michael Silver of The Athletic, the six-time Pro Bowler revealed why he passed on the 49ers' opportunity.

“I was entertaining the Niners,” Adams said, “but they were like, ‘We’re paying wholesale. We ain’t paying retail.’ I didn’t talk to them, but that’s what my agent told me — like five times, that quote. And I was like, ‘OK, well, I’m not a wholesale-type dude.’”

Throughout the 2024 season playing for the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets, Adams proved to still be a viable option, starting 14 games while racking up 85 receptions, 1,063 yards and eight touchdowns in 141 targets.

Of course, he wound up signing with the Los Angeles Rams on a two-year, $44 million contract, which ties him for the 17th highest paid wide receiver in terms of annual salary ($22 million).

The 49ers would go out and find quarterback Brock Purdy a new target at wide receiver, signing Demarcus Robinson, who last year had 31 receptions, 505 yards and seven touchdowns to a two-year, $8 million contract.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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