Insider shuts down Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel trade rumors

Last week, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk officially requested a trade from the 49ers after several unsuccessful attempts at reaching a contract extension this offseason.

Aiyuk isn't the only name that has been tossed around as a potential trade option, either. Fellow wide receiver Deebo Samuel has also been named as a player who could be on the move.

While San Francisco has some tough decisions to make, the team reportedly has no intention of trading the disgruntled Aiyuk, and ESPN insider Adam Schefter supports the notion that trading Aiyuk or Samuel wouldn't make any sense for a team ready to contend for a Super Bowl.

"If you're the 49ers, why would you trade Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel, either one, for draft pick compensation in 2025 when you're trying to win a Super Bowl now?" Schefter asked on "The Pat McAfee Show." "It makes no sense. Not only that, you can trade Deebo after the year if you want."

The 49ers will likely need to move on from Aiyuk or Samuel at some point to get under the salary cap, but Schefter is right that it doesn't have to happen this year.

The 2025 season, on the other hand, is a different story since San Francisco is currently set to be $38.42M over the salary cap without Aiyuk on the books, per Over The Cap.

That, however, is a problem for another day. The 49ers' current problem could be dealing with a potential holdout by Aiyuk.

"My guess would be that Aiyuk ... doesn't show up to training camp ... and tries to force the issue here," Schefter added. "Then we see if the two sides can work out a deal or whether he wants to continue to be difficult."

If Aiyuk does hold out of training camp, it could be enough to force his way out of San Francisco, but Schefter believes the team is going to do everything it can to keep him and Samuel before it reaches that point.

"I think they want to find a way to keep all these guys for this season and then we'll see what happens after the year, but obviously, it's not gonna be simple," Schefter finished. "...I don't know how it's gonna work out yet."

Aiyuk may have played his last down with the 49ers, or he may have many to come. Either way, his story in San Francisco has taken a turn for the worse.