The San Francisco 49ers were close to a Super Bowl title this year as they narrowly lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in an overtime classic. In the ebbs and flows of the game, it seemed at times that they surprisingly got away from getting star WR Brandon Aiyuk involved in the offensive game plan.
While understanding that game situations change plans in real-time, it still remains a bit of a head-scratcher to not only fans but to Aiyuk himself in regards to how it all unfolded. So much so that Aiyuk and members of his family and inner circle started to take to social media to show their displeasure, as well as a desire to be somewhere else next season.
Well, according to one ESPN NFL analyst, he may get what he’s asking for.
ESPN Analyst Mentions Possibility of Brandon Aiyuk Trade
ESPN NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller held a media conference call on Tuesday afternoon and gave his opinion on the Aiyuk trade rumors.
“I think there’s a possibility. I don’t want to be that guy who says, ‘Brandon Aiyuk will be traded,’ but there is a lot of smoke right now. We’ve seen it happen before with players like A.J. Brown. If Aiyuk is traded, then wide receiver becomes a major need for the 49ers.”
Aiyuk finished the Super Bowl with a modest impact as he only accumulated three receptions and 49 yards. That outing ultimately looks to be serving as the final straw for what looks like it could be a mutual parting of ways.
Aiyuk finished the 2023 season with 75 receptions, 1,342 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns. It was the best year thus far in his young career and the second consecutive year where he had over 1,000 receiving yards and at least seven touchdowns in a season.
Aiyuk enters the final year of his rookie deal, and the star WR is expected to see his cap number rise to $14 million, setting the stage for the 49ers to decide whether they want him to play on that number, extend him, or — in the scenario that the Aiyuk family wants — maybe even trade him.
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There is still a lot of offseason left to sort things out, but with the draft fast approaching and the 49ers surely looking to solidify their draft strategy, a resolution one way or the other on Aiyuk may be wanted sooner rather than later.
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