Former executive predicts if 49ers will trade Brandon Aiyuk

Former NFL executive and current analyst Andrew Brandt thinks the San Francisco 49ers are essentially unbothered by the fact that wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has requested a trade amid Aiyuk's desire for a contract extension.

"The 49ers have made their intentions clear without saying anything," Brandt said about Aiyuk's situation during the latest edition of "The Business of Sports" podcast, as shared by Joe Clark of Steelers Depot. "Basically, if they were gonna trade him or they were gonna re-up his contract, they would've done it by now."

Aiyuk and fellow San Francisco wide receiver Deebo Samuel were the subjects of trade rumors before the 49ers made Ricky Pearsall the 31st overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. While Aiyuk is in the final year of his rookie contract, Samuel is signed through the 2025 season.

Some thought this spring the 49ers could trade either Aiyuk or Samuel ahead of the 2024 campaign because the club probably will sign quarterback Brock Purdy to a massive contract extension next offseason. 

However, multiple insiders have more recently made it known they expect San Francisco will wait Aiyuk out and keep him on his current deal since the club can retain his rights for 2025 via the franchise tag.

"I don't think they're gonna do the contract, and I don't think they're gonna trade him," Brandt added about how he believes the 49ers will handle Aiyuk's short-term future. "They took a first-round receiver and I think they took a lower-round receiver (Jacob Cowing in the fourth round), which to me telegraphs what they're saying here. Aiyuk's in the last year of his contract. They want him there. They need him. But next year, they might not need him."

After news about Aiyuk's trade request went public on Tuesday, 49ers insider Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area (h/t Ali Thanawalla) reported that the 26-year-old likely will have to play for San Francisco on the last year of his deal if the two sides don't put pen to paper on an extension before Week 1. 

Such a take indicates Maiocco doesn't think Aiyuk would forfeit money by staying away from the team through the start of the regular season.