San Francisco 49ers star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is not so quietly looking for a trade. After establishing himself as one of the best receivers in the game with a dominant 1,3000-yard season, the wide receiver only caught three passes in the Super Bowl. This frustration, combined with his inevitable contract extension, led him to voice frustrations with his current organization.
Technically speaking, opposing teams do not have the right to negotiate a trade with Brandon Aiyuk without the permission of the San Francisco 49ers. However, tampering rules are more like suggestions, and as long as you’re not blatant about it, nobody is going to do anything if you contact a player.
With this in mind, a recent report indicates that the Jacksonville Jaguars want to trade for Brandon Aiyuk, and the wide receiver would be interested in a move to the Sunshine State.
REPORT: #49ers star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and the #Jaguars have MUTUAL INTEREST in a trade, per @1010XL.
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) March 14, 2024
One Team Emerges In Brandon Aiyuk Trade Talks
It’s easy to see why the Jaguars would like to trade for Brandon Aiyuk, and why the wide receiver would like to come to Jacksonville. The Jaguars just lost out on Calvin Ridley, which means they need somebody to be the top option in this passing attack. Christian Kirk and Gabriel Davis are better off as secondary options, and Aiyuk can handle a large workload. Seeing as they share a division with an upstart Houston Texans team, Jacksonville will need as many playmakers as they can get to win the AFC South.
Brandon Aiyuk wants to get paid, and that will happen in a trade. However, looking beyond the money, who wouldn’t want to catch passes from Trevor Lawrence? While he hasn’t lived up to his generational prospect billing, the former first-overall pick is a franchise quarterback with the arm talent to reach any part of the field.
The 49ers won’t want to trade Brandon Aiyuk, but they might not have a choice. Salary cap issues have already forced them to release Arik Armstead, and if Aiyuk truly wants to leave at all costs, then San Francisco would be wise to deal him now for whatever they can get.
Of course, the Jaguars won’t be the only team trying to trade for Brandon Aiyuk. The former first-round pick is one of the best young receivers in the game, and all 31 organizations should be trying to acquire him. While any team could pull the trigger, these five make the most sense.
Possible Destinations
New England Patriots
Despite having all the money in the world, the Patriots seem either unwilling or unable to find a wide receiver in free agency. After striking out on Calvin Ridley, the team seemingly showed no interest in Marquise Brown, Keenan Allen, or any of the other big-name options on the market. If they can’t convince a free agent to come aboard, then perhaps they can trade for Brandon Aiyuk. New England is going to have a new quarterback next year, and if they want that guy to succeed, they’ll need to surround him with better weapons than Kendrick Bourne and Demario Douglas.
Carolina Panthers
The Diontae Johnson trade was a good one for the Carolina Panthers, but he’s only under contract for one more season. Johnson is a solid player, but he’s not the type of guy you extend before seeing him suit up. Brandon Aiyuk is good enough to justify an immediate extension, and if Carolina can trade one of their second-round picks for his services, then they’d be foolish not to.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs signed Marquise Brown to a one-year deal, fixing their short-term need for a wide receiver. However, this team still needs a long-term solution for the position. With Travis Kelce getting up there in age, the Chiefs need to find a player who can serve as the next top option for Patrick Mahomes. Brandon Aiyuk found a way to get 1,300 yards in a crowded receiver room on a run-heavy offense, so just imagine what the trade candidate can do with Patrick Mahomes and the pass-heavy Chiefs.
Los Angeles Chargers
If there’s any team in the league that needs a wide receiver more than the Patriots, it’s the Chargers. After parting ways with Mike Williams and Keenan Allen, Justin Herbert doesn’t have a single proven option in the passing game. Allen’s trade freed up quite a bit of cap space, so the Chargers should be able to sign Brandon Aiyuk to a market deal. Additionally, trade cost shouldn’t be an issue, as the Chargers could easily trade down from the fifth-overall selection and be flush with picks.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers were done with the inconsistent effort of Diontae Johnson. However, sending him away left them with a glaring hole at wide receiver. George Pickens is a good, young receiver, but the present-day version of Russell Wilson needs more help if he wants to take this team on a deep playoff run. With all due respect to Pickens, Brandon Aiyuk would be the best receiver on this team, and giving Wilson two reliable receivers is enough to justify a trade.
Main Photo: Joe Camporeale – USA Today Sports
