The San Francisco 49ers have consistently made it clear that they are not trading wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. His current contract situation is far more difficult, though.
Entering what is the final year of his rookie deal, the former first-round pick is looking to be paid among the top players at the receiver position. While the 49ers have consistently stated they will not be moving the 1,000-yard receiver, recent updates have altered what the franchise could end up deciding.
Latest on Negotiations Between 49ers and Brandon Aiyuk
It’s important to note that any conversation regarding Aiyuk and the 49ers should start with the latest updates from league meetings in Orlando, Fla.
On Monday, 49ers general manager John Lynch insisted that the team was not shopping the Arizona State product and was only interested in agreeing to a long-term extension. Lynch later said the organization would be “comfortable” allowing Aiyuk to play through the final year of his contract with the threat of the franchise tag looming during the 2025 offseason.
#49ers GM John Lynch spoke about Brandon Aiyuk earlier today….
Seems like Aiyuk is responding on his IG story… pic.twitter.com/Zq4gqshXmo
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) March 25, 2024
Aiyuk didn’t seem too thrilled with that, though. In an Instagram story (above) shortly following Lynch’s comments, San Fran’s leading receiver left up a questionable post using plenty of emojis.
Which Teams Could Trade for Brandon Aiyuk?
The 49ers don’t have to move Aiyuk at all with two franchise tag tenders potentially used over the next few seasons. It could, however, damage the relationship between the team and a star receiver on the roster.
Should things come to a head, moving Aiyuk might be the only course of action for the 49ers. And should that be the case, it’s important to look at some of the potential suitors.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars lost out on the Calvin Ridley sweepstakes to an arch-rival so they’ll still be interested in acquiring a top receiver to pair with Trevor Lawrence. As good as Ridley was in Jacksonville, he’s not the player Aiyuk is.
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Aiyuk’s route-running, speed, and overall agility put him in a class above Ridley and, therefore, would be a massive upgrade for Jacksonville should the 49ers pull the trigger on a trade. Moving him to the AFC wouldn’t be so detrimental, either.
New England Patriots
Staying in the AFC, another team that missed out on Ridley was the New England Patriots. New England has plenty of needs all over their offense, but with the expected arrival of a young quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft, bringing a top receiver should allow whichever rookie is selected to hit the ground running.
Aiyuk is still only 26 years old so by the time he hits his prime, he should be able to compete with a Patriots team much improved and ready to get back to winning.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh traded away Diontae Johnson and gave the reason: they wanted better leadership in front of George Pickens.
After missing out on the Mike Williams sweepstakes last week, the Black and Gold could be looking to bring another top wideout to their improved offense. Aiyuk would not only turn into Pittsburgh’s best receiver but would cap an unusually aggressive offseason by the organization as a whole.
Washington Commanders
The only way the 49ers end up moving Ayiuk is if it’s a deal with an AFC team or a team in the NFC that won’t be able to challenge San Francisco right away.
The Washington Commanders, with former 49ers Vice President of Player Personnel Adam Peters, could be an ideal destination.
Washington will be selecting a quarterback with the second overall pick, so having another receiver opposite Terry McLaurin would give the young signal-caller an ideal home to grow as a passer and lead the Commanders to victory.
New York Giants
The New York Giants have upgraded their defensive and offensive lines. Now, they need to add competent receivers that can consistently win at the line of scrimmage. A trade with Aiyuk could certainly do that.
New York does not have any legitimate top offensive weapon now that Saquon Barkley is in Philadelphia and Darren Waller is contemplating retirement. It makes sense for them to try and swing at a big-priced player like Aiyuk who would walk in as the best receiver the team has had since Odell Beckham Jr.
Trading for Aiyuk would also give the Giants more flexibility with their first-round draft pick at sixth overall. While they could pair Aiyuk with a top rookie, adding an elite wide receiver could make it easier for them to address a different position of need, such as offensive line or even quarterback.
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