Brandon Aiyuk hasn’t been traded yet. But reports suggest the San Francisco 49ers are close to moving their All-Pro wideout.
That would be a blow for a dynamic 49ers offense, but one that may be necessary to take. Aiyuk has just one year remaining on his rookie contract, putting him in line for an extension that would approach the four years and $140 million Justin Jefferson received from the Minnesota Vikings. That’s a lot of money for a star-laded San Francisco team to dole out, especially with quarterback Brock Purdy nearing his own extension in the coming years.
As such, it makes sense to trade a rising young receiver while the Niners can glean maximum value for him rather than possibly lose him in free agency. The New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns have emerged as rumored suitors. And while no deal has been struck as of the time of publication, his teammate Christian McCaffrey may have unwittingly tipped San Francisco’s hand:
“As a former teammate, er, teammate of his.” pic.twitter.com/BKLOZzwccd
— Grant Cohn (@grantcohn) August 6, 2024
“For me, I don’t deal with [trade proceedings],” said McCaffrey while being interviewed on NFL Network. “That’s not part of my job, not part of my position. Obviously as a former teammate — er, you know, teammate of his in general, any teammate you have, you love, respect them and want the best for them.”
That “former teammate” quip may have been an innocent mistake. Or it may have been a Freudian slip that reveals how the 49ers locker room is expecting Aiyuk’s trade request to unfold. Either way, the league waits with bated breath to see if the rising star will remain part of San Francisco’s quest to finally break through to a Super Bowl victory or bring back a king’s ransom on the swap market instead.
