The 49ers have a soft deadline next week to trade Brandon Aiyuk
The L.A. Rams and San Francisco 49ers have traded turns as the top dogs in the NFC West, combining to win the division in seven of the last eight years. But the 49ers finished in last place in 2024 at 6-11 and will look considerably different next season after trading Deebo Samuel and parting ways with a number of key starters such as Charvarius Ward, Dre Greenlaw, and Talanoa Hufanga.
Could the next player on the way out be receiver Brandon Aiyuk?
Though the 49ers extended Aiyuk last fall, the receiver suffered a serious injury and also has a huge $23 million roster bonus due next week. On his podcast, ESPN’s Adam Schefter says that next week’s bonus due on April 1st serves as a deadline for San Francisco to trade Aiyuk or keep him for the entire year:
If the 49ers pay him, there’s no reason to trade him.
The Rams have had their own share of receiver changes this offseason, releasing Cooper Kupp and signing Davante Adams. The Seattle Seahawks are in the same boat, trading DK Metcalf and releasing Tyler Lockett, but adding Kupp.
Aiyuk played in seven games last year and had 374 yards with no touchdowns. The year before that he had 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns, leading to his extension at $30 million per season.
If there is no trade, the 49ers will have Aiyuk, 2024 first round pick Ricky Pearsall, and Jauan Jennings leading the way at receiver. With a trade, San Francisco’s situation at receiver is wholly uncertain and the team could even draft another first round receiver in 2025.
They might do that anyway.
Who has it best at receiver in the NFC West? The Rams with Puka Nacua and Adams, the Seahawks with Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Kupp, the Cardinals with Marvin Harrison and Michael Wilson or the 49ers with Aiyuk and Pearsall?
The Rams have an air tight case there to be number one.
