Brandon Aiyuk Trade? Why 49ers Should Hold Line With Underrated Wideout

Brandon Aiyuk doesn’t typically land on any lists of the NFL’s top receivers, but if the San Francisco 49ers honor his request, it could tip the scales ahead of the 2024 season.

The 2020 first-round pick has reportedly requested a trade after repeated unsuccessful attempts to reach a new deal. Aiyuk made the request after more failed negotiations in a recent meeting, according to NFL Media.

The 49ers don’t have to honor that request, though. Aiyuk has one season left on his rookie deal, so the Niners could just let it play out this season — with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations — and then eventually start tagging him. The Niners have most of if not all of the leverage for now.

If San Francisco did shop him, it would be fascinating to see what kind of market he could have. Aiyuk doesn’t get the credit or headlines better-known wideouts across the league — or even on his own team — might get, but his production can’t be denied. Aiyuk ranked sixth in yards per route run last season, and his production has increased each season. Aiyuk racked up a career-high 1,342 yards last season while playing in 16 games for the Niners. He’s also a good run-blocker, a must in Kyle Shanahan’s offense.

If the Niners did look to trade him, the market would be strong. Bookies.com created hypothetical odds for a trade with Steelers leading the way followed by the Los Angeles Chargers and New England Patriots.

NESN.com’s Mike Cole and Ricky Doyle discussed a potential Aiyuk trade and how it could affect the rest of the league on this week’s episode of “The Spread” sports betting podcast.

“The 49ers, right now, are co-favorites to win the Super Bowl with the Chiefs, 6-1,” Doyle pointed out. “It’s pretty clear they’re all in for this year, so isn’t that incentive enough, to the initial point, to tell him ‘Kick rocks and you’re playing under this contract, and that’s it, we’re going for it this year.’ What are you going to trade him for?”

” … It’s not a situation where they’re a middle-of-the-pack team and you trade him for draft compensation … I don’t see what would be a rational trade on their end because you’re probably doing it for something that can help you win the Super Bowl this year, and I don’t know what that is. I don’t think it exists.”

If the 49ers were to trade Aiyuk, finding a player that fits what they need and whose money can match up with Aiyuk’s contract situation — not to mention a team willing to potentially extend Aiyuk — is not easy.

“That’s fantasy land when you start talking about these contracts,” Cole argued, “and the way that they’re structured. It’s very hard to make the money work. It’s very hard to match contracts.”

You can watch this week’s entire episode of “The Spread” on YouTube, or you can download and listen to the episode on Spotify.