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49ers may keep Brandon Aiyuk for one reason

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated Mar 15, 2026 4:04 PM ET

Brandon Aiyuk may have played his last game for the San Francisco 49ers, but that does not necessarily mean the team will get rid of him immediately.

Broadcaster Guy Haberman said the Niners would gladly hold onto Aiyuk for weeks or months if they felt there was a chance of getting anything of value for the wide receiver in a trade. That would be the case even if it just meant they got a seventh-round pick.

“From what I’m hearing, I do think a couple of teams will say, ‘Yeah, I can put him with my quarterback, in my system, and give him a fresh start. What’s a seventh-round pick?’ They’re not going to cut bait with a guy if there’s even a 5 percent chance he can still bring some value,” Haberman said.

49ers plan to hold onto Brandon Aiyuk to see if they can maximize his value in a trade, per @GuyHaberman

“If they got a seventh-round pick because they waited three months, that would be considered maximizing value. From what I’m hearing, I do think a couple of teams will say,… pic.twitter.com/lFwYBjhttt
— NinerStats (@NinerStats) March 14, 2026

The 49ers have fallen out with Aiyuk completely, so they will not feel any need to do right by him and let him go wherever he wants. His $15 million cap hit may give teams pause, however, especially since he is still coming off a major knee injury.

Aiyuk has not played since 2024, though he caught 75 passes for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023. Reports have suggested he does have a landing spot in mind if the 49ers did give him any say in the matter.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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