There’s subverting expectations, and then there’s what the San Francisco 49ers did with their first-round draft pick Thursday.
In selecting — and perhaps overreaching for — a young, athletic receiver, the Niners somehow not only managed to put Brandon Aiyuk trade rumors to bed, but also kicked up a whole new storm of rumors surrounding their other star wideout who was once thought to be a certain part of the team’s future: Deebo Samuel.
This wasn’t completely out of the blue, although that didn’t dull the surprise by much.