With most of the quality free agent wide receivers already finding new homes, teams interested in improving the position will need to consider a trade for players like Brandon Aiyuk or Tee Higgins. While Higgins is set to play on the franchise tag and has publicly requested a trade, Aiyuk is still on his rookie deal and hasn’t officially requested anything. However, you don’t need to be Sherlock Holmes to see that he wants to leave San Francisco.
Shortly after the team’s season-ending loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Brandon Aiyuk’s girlfriend took to TikTok to announce that the wide receiver has probably played his last game with the 49ers. The wideout’s best friend posted a similar message shortly thereafter, and Brandon Aiyuk himself did nothing to dissuade the notion that he is looking for a trade. In fact, he only added fuel to the fire with his latest tweet.
Apparently, talks are so far along that the Jacksonville Jaguars have seriously discussed a Brandon Aiyuk trade. According to Mia O’Brien of 92.5FM, the 49ers wanted Jacksonville’s first-round pick and wide receiver Zay Jones in exchange for the receiver.
BREAKING: The #49ers wanted the 17th overall pick and Zay Jones from the #Jaguars for star WR Brandon Aiyuk.
San Francisco is listening to offers for Aiyuk 👀
(Via @MiaOBrienTV) pic.twitter.com/IHLPcV0AVx
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) March 18, 2024
Reported Cost Leaks In Brandon Aiyuk Trade
This trade price, while steep, makes perfect sense for a player as good as Brandon Aiyuk. Originally selected in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, the Arizona State product has steadily improved in each and every season of his career. Universally known as one of the best route runners in the game, Aiyuk found a way to reach 1,300 receiving yards despite playing on a run-first offense loaded with talent.
Of course, any team willing to trade for Brandon Aiyuk is also going to have to meet his contract demands. With the passing game more important than ever before, players like Aiyuk who can make a quarterback’s life easier are earning massive paydays. There is a real chance he gets more than $30 million per year.
That’s a steep price to pay, especially when you consider that the 2024 NFL Draft class is loaded with talent at the wide receiver position. However, some team will trade for a sure thing in Brandon Aiyuk, and these five organizations are the most likely fits.
Possible Destinations (Other Than the Jaguars)
Pittsburgh Steelers
With Diontae Johnson on the Carolina Panthers, the Steelers need to trade for a wide receiver like Brandon Aiyuk who can help Russell Wilson. After a dismal 2022, the former Seahawk showed some signs of life in 2023, but he needs more than George Pickens if he’s going to guide this team on a deep playoff run. With Pittsburgh’s quarterback room costing next to nothing, the Steelers should be able to afford Aiyuk’s contract.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers just parted ways with two high-priced wide receivers in Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, so they might not want to trade for another in Brandon Aiyuk. However, Allen was old and Williams was not good enough to justify his contract. Aiyuk is in the prime of his career and should be worth every penny, at least in the short term. If the Chargers trade back from the fifth-overall pick, they should be able to acquire the wideout and still draft a tackle in the first round.
New Orleans Saints
Head coach Dennis Allen is not going to survive another season without making the playoffs, so he could pull out all the stops and trade Brandon Aiyuk for their first-round pick and Rashid Shaheed. While this is a steep price to pay, it will give New Orleans one of the best receiving duos in football. There would be some long-term ramifications for this move, but the Saints aren’t in a position to worry about that. This franchise is built around winning now, and acquiring Aiyuk is the best way to do that.
New England Patriots
The Patriots will not trade the third-overall pick for Brandon Aiyuk. They could, however, trade back from the third-overall pick and use one of their additional picks to get the star wide receiver. If New England isn’t in love with Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels, it’s easy to imagine them doing something like this and then selecting Michael Penix in the second round.
Carolina Panthers
As mentioned in the Panthers free agency grades, Carolina is spending the offseason building around Bryce Young. Getting Diontae Johnson and bolstering the offensive line are good steps in the right direction, but a Brandon Aiyuk trade would give Young a chance to truly shine. The difficulty here will be finding a deal that makes sense for both sides, as Carolina does not have their first-round pick. However, if the two sides can figure something out, then Aiyuk could help Young become a true franchise quarterback.
Main Photo: Joe Camporeale – USA Today Sports
