It’s becoming more and more inevitable that the 49ers will trade wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Even though they haven’t won a title since the 1990’s, San Francisco has been one of the best teams in the league over the past few years, and they owe a good portion of that success to their star wide receiver. Since joining the team in 2020, the Arizona State product has been a dangerous weapon that has improved with experience.
The 2023 season was easily the best of Aiyuk’s career. Finally paired with a reliable quarterback for an entire season, the wide receiver responded with 75 receptions for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns on 105 targets. Brandon Aiyuk is unquestionably one of the best wide receivers in the game, but the 49ers might have no choice but to trade him.
Aiyuk is entering the final year of his contract and is looking for a new deal that accurately reflects his impact on the team. While the 49ers reportedly don’t want to trade Brandon Aiyuk, they’re reportedly not making any progress on a long-term deal. According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the two sides are “not close” in contract talks, which means something could happen during the 2024 NFL Draft.
Brandon Aiyuk Trade Seems Imminent Following Stalled Contract Talks
The San Francisco 49ers bet the future of their franchise on Trey Lance. That didn’t work out, as the team effectively set three first-round picks on fire while the North Dakota State product only appeared in three games. While Brock Purdy’s arrival minimized the damage of that disastrous trade, it indirectly impacted Brandon Aiyuk.
With no first-round picks for three years, the 49ers had to spend up to find starting-caliber talent on the open market. This is not a cost-effective way of doing business, and now they don’t have the cap space to give Aiyuk what he deserves. Right now, the team barely has any cap space and needs to save what little they do have for Brock Purdy’s inevitable extension. Because of this, Brandon Aiyuk could be the odd man out, and San Francisco should be able to get a good return in a trade.
1,300-yard receivers don’t grow on trees, and wide receivers have never been more valuable than in today’s pass-heavy NFL. Every team in the league should be interested in a Brandon Aiyuk trade, but these five organizations make the most sense.
Possible Landing Spots
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars have been the frontrunners in the Brandon Aiyuk trade sweepstakes for quite some time. Recent reports indicate that Jacksonville would have to give up the 17th-overall pick and Zay Jones for the wide receiver’s services. That’s a steep price to pay, especially when you consider the Jaguars would also need to give Aiyuk a brand new contract. Perhaps they’ll wait until draft day to see if someone like LSU’s Brian Thomas falls to 17. If he doesn’t, then perhaps the team calls the 49ers.
Carolina Panthers
The Panthers are not messing around when it comes to their rebuild. The team has already fortified the offensive line, bolstered the wide receiver depth chart, and added some reliable veterans to the defense. However, if this team truly wants to make the next step, they’ll trade for Brandon Aiyuk. Stefon Diggs, Tyreek Hill, and D.J. Moore did wonders for their young quarterbacks, and now it’s time for Aiyuk to do the same for Bryce Young.
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills have an aging and frustrated Stefon Diggs and not much else at wide receiver. While tight end Dalton Kincaid showed some promise as a rookie, Buffalo should add a more proven option to be the future of this offense. Josh Allen is phenomenal, but they’ll need more offensive firepower to make it past the Kansas City Chiefs. A Brandon Aiyuk trade might be the perfect way to close the gap between these two teams and finally bring a Lombardi back to Buffalo.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers have the worst group of wide receivers in the league. Joe Hortiz might believe in Quentin Johnston, but he really shouldn’t. The rookie had a historically bad first year, and Josh Palmer is nothing more than a journeyman. If the Chargers trade back from the fifth-overall pick, then they should be able to use one of their additional first-round picks to trade for Brandon Aiyuk.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs are going to need a new wide receiver, especially if the Rashee Rice situation is as bad as it looks. Marquise Brown is a fine short-term option, but a Brandon Aiyuk trade would solidify the position for years to come. Seeing as Rashee Rice is the only thing resembling a good wide receiver the Chiefs have drafted since Tyreek Hill, they might as well just pay up for a sure thing in Aiyuk as they go for the three-peat.
Main Photo: Joe Camporeale – USA Today Sports
