Bears wouldn’t dare consider this hazardous trade, would they?

While Aiyuk is still technically a member of the 49ers, it would be beyond shocking if he ever suited up for them again.

The 28-year-old tore his ACL midway through 2024 and then proceeded to sit out the entire 2025 campaign simply because he did not want to play for San Francisco, this even though he signed a four-year, $120 million extension heading into 2024.

The 49ers are trying to trade him, and the cost would probably be as minimal as a late Day 3 pick. Would it be worth the risk for Chicago? Patrick Holloway of Niners Nation explained Aiyuk’s contract situation earlier in the offseason, and it doesn’t sound too bad.

“If traded, a team would be on the hook for Aiyuk’s 2026 salary—an estimated $1.2 million base that is not guaranteed—before factoring in $750,000 per-game roster bonuses,” Holloway wrote. “If Aiyuk plays every game, those bonuses alone push his earnings to around $15 million. His salary rockets in 2027 and 2028 to estimated amounts of $27.2 million and $29.1 million, respectively. Sure, a team could take him for one year and cut him, but it’s still a large amount of money for a player who hasn’t seen the field since 2024.”

Essentially, none of Aiyuk’s money beyond 2026 is guaranteed, and even next season, he won’t be making a ton of money.

The Bears could really use a top-flight receiver to put alongside Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III, and when healthy, Aiyuk is obviously a force. But he also hasn’t played in a year-and-a-half, and he basically quit on the 49ers.

The idea of Aiyuk is tempting. After all, he hauled in 75 receptions for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns during his last healthy season in 2023. But there is probably too much fluff involved for Chicago to take that much interest in a trade. If he gets released, however, that completely changes things.