The San Francisco 49ers were one overtime triumph away from winning a Super Bowl. Now, they head into the NFL offseason looking to get over the hump in 2024 and beyond.
As the NFL Combine rolls through, and free agency is set to begin in a week and a half, the 49ers have questions they need answers to.
No team stays the same year to year, but just how different San Francisco could look depends on Brandon Aiyuk’s contract situation, with reports being that the two outcomes for the team and him could end up being drastically different heading into 2024.
Brandon Aiyuk Could Be Shopped Without a New Deal
It’s already been an interesting offseason for Aiyuk and the 49ers, with the contention between player and team starting as early as Super Bowl Sunday.
Aiyuk and his family took to social media to show their displeasure with the way he was used during the game. He even hinted at the fact that he may be on the move in 2024 and had played his last game for the team.
While it’s clear the 49ers want Aiyuk back, according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, if they’re unable to agree on a long-term deal, him being sent somewhere else may not be that far-fetched after all.
“The 49ers would like to get Brandon Aiyuk’s contract extended, but he’s also a trade candidate if they can’t get something done.”
It’s something that has been rumored since the season ended, and this acts as another reminder of how drastically the Aiyuk situation can unfold this offseason.
Last month, ESPN NFL Draft Analyst Matt Miller also alluded to the fact that an Aiyuk trade is possible. Graziano seems to be echoing a lot of the same sentiment Miller just a week after the big game concluded.
During a conference call leading up to the NFL Combine, Miller was asked about his thoughts regarding the Aiyuk situation and how it could affect the 49ers’ draft plans.
“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 has been a big part of San Francisco’s offense since being drafted in 2020 and has seen two consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in 2022 and 2023. Despite that, he only caught three passes for 49 yards in the Super Bowl and made it clear he believed he should have been targeted more in the big game.
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From then on, it has been a contentious offseason between the 49ers and Aiyuk. As they go to the negotiating table, the result of those talks could drastically change the outcome of how this all plays out for both parties.
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