Plenty of speculation has surrounded Brandon Aiyuk recently, and that continues to be the case as the draft approaches. Fellow 49ers receiver Deebo Samuel could also find himself on the trade block.
San Francisco has discussed a move up the board in the first round — perhaps as high as the top 10 in the order — in a trade that would include "either of their prized wide receivers," Aiyuk or Samuel, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports. Despite assurances from general manager John Lynch that the former is expected to stay in place, he will thus remain worth watching closely in the coming hours.
San Francisco is not believed to be close on extension talks with Aiyuk, who has publicly displayed his frustration with the lack of a long-term deal. Citing the similarities of his case to that of Samuel not that long ago, Lynch has offered public confidence the former first-rounder will be retained through the draft. Depending on the market which emerges, though, that could stand to change.
Michael Silver of the San Francisco Chronicle confirms teams have shown interest in Samuel in addition to Aiyuk. The former is on the books for two more years, while the latter is set to play on his $14.12M fifth-year option in 2024. Keeping Aiyuk in the fold on a major raise would be difficult given the implications of extending another skill-position player before quarterback Brock Purdy becomes eligible for a lucrative new deal of his own.
The 49ers own pick No. 31, and as such, they could stand to benefit from a notable move up the board. Jumping into the top 10 would incur a major cost, but including Aiyuk or Samuel in any trade would of course create a notable vacancy in the team’s offense. It will be interesting to see how many teams set to pick early or in the middle of the Day 1 order are interested in adding an expensive veteran at the WR position.
Believed to be in the market for a receiver addition, the Steelers have been named as one of the teams that have shown interest in Aiyuk. The 26-year-old had a career year in 2023 (75,1,342-7 statline) and he is poised to remain a focal point on San Francisco’s offense if he remains in place. Whether or not that will be the case is once again a burning question as the draft draws near.
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