San Francisco 49ers star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is one of the biggest names on the trade market this offseason. The former first-round pick broke out in a big way last year, finishing the year with 75 receptions for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns while guiding his team to the Super Bowl. Now entering the final year of his rookie contract, the Arizona State product has not shied away from the fact that he wants to be paid like one of the top players at his position.
Right after the season concluded, both Aiyuk’s girlfriend and best friend said the wide receiver wouldn’t be back in 2024, and Aiyuk himself did nothing to dissuade that report. He later called out a “bullshit” quote from general manager John Lynch about his contract status, and Brandon Aiyuk has now directly addressed the trade rumors.
“I’m trying to get what I deserve,” Aiyuk said. “I feel like this season, this season playing football, I figured out who I was as a person and a player — what I bring to the table, what I bring to the locker room, what I bring to the organization. The value I hold when I walk in that building. People gonna follow me because I’ve done it the right way since I’ve been in that building. From the first day I walked in there to when I was in there earlier this morning. If they don’t see the worth in that, that’s all it is. It ain’t nothing else besides that. I can’t get into it. We got professionals working on both sides, so hopefully we can come to a professional agreement to continue playing professional football.”
Brandon Aiyuk Clarifies Trade Request: “I’m Trying To Get What I Deserve”
It’s hard to argue against the idea that Aiyuk deserves to be one of the highest-paid receivers in the game. Recording 1,300 yards is no easy feat, especially in a run-first offense overflowing with explosive pass-catchers. The advanced metrics tell a similar story, as Aiyuk finished the season with the second-best PFF grade and the third-best yards per route run of any receiver. Brandon Aiyuk deserves $30 million per year, and some team should be willing to trade for the right to hand out that contract.
The 49ers know how valuable Aiyuk is to their offense, but they might not be able to meet his asking price. San Francisco sacrificed three first-round picks for the right to select Trey Lance, and that lack of cost-controlled talent is starting to show up. The team only has $7.5 million in cap space, and they need to set some money aside for Brock Purdy’s inevitable extension. With this in mind, the 49ers might have no choice but to trade Brandon Aiyuk.
Possible Destinations
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots need a wide receiver in the worst way. After striking out on Calvin Ridley, the team currently has Kendrick Bourne and Demario Douglas as their top receiving options. Maybe peak Tom Brady would be able to get by with this lackluster supporting cast, but Jacoby Brissett and/or a rookie quarterback will need more playmakers. Brandon Aiyuk is one of the best in the game, and the Patriots have the cap space to trade for the wide receiver and pay him market value.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars appear to be the frontrunners in the Brandon Aiyuk trade sweepstakes. After losing Ridley to the Jacksonville Jaguars, this team needs another receiver for young franchise quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Earlier reports indicate that the 49ers wanted a first-round pick and Zay Jones for Aiyuk’s services. Only time will tell if the Jaguars will meet this price once the 2024 NFL Draft begins.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers have the worst group of wide receivers in the NFL by a considerable margin. Quentin Johnston had an atrocious rookie season, and Josh Palmer is nothing more than a journeyman. Justin Herbert is great, but he can’t do it all by himself. Los Angeles could probably get a king’s ransom for the fifth-overall pick, and if they trade back, they could use one of their additional first-round picks for Brandon Aiyuk.
Carolina Panthers
Stefon Diggs helped turn Josh Allen into one of the best quarterbacks in football. Tyreek Hill turned Tua Tagovailoa from a bottom-five starting quarterback into a franchise passer. Now, it’s time for the Panthers to give Bryce Young that career-changing wide receiver. The team has already improved the offensive line and added a reliable playmaker in Diontae Johnson, but a Brandon Ayiuk trade could save this offense. If Young can’t succeed with all these improved pieces, then Carolina will need to find a better option in 2025.
Kansas City Chiefs
Would the San Francisco 49ers ever trade Brandon Aiyuk to the reigning Super Bowl champions? It seems unlikely, but the fit is too good to ignore. Marquise Brown solved Kansas City’s short-term need for a wide receiver, but they could still use a long-term answer opposite Rashee Rice. Brandon Aiyuk’s innate route running and ability after the catch were tailor-made for Andy Reid’s scheme, and he should post the best numbers of his career in this pass-heavy attack led by the best quarterback in football.
Main Photo: Joe Camporeale – USA Today Sports
