NFL rumors: 49ers talk with ‘several teams’ on Brandon Aiyuk trade but there’s a catch..
While the 49ers have reportedly talked with team about Brandon Aiyuk, there is an important detail to remember.
San Francisco 49ers star Brandon Aiyuk with question marks around him in front of Levi’s Stadium.
While the San Francisco 49ers look to lock down Brock Purdy to a long-term extension, some fans are wondering about star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. While there have been rumors around the 49ers trading Aiyuk, there is more reporting on the subject with what the interest around the league looks like.
San Francisco 49ers star Brandon Aiyuk with question marks around him in front of Levi’s Stadium.
Aiyuk had a frustrating season last season where after getting the contract extension he wanted from San Francisco, he suffered from a torn ACL in Week 7 which took him out for the rest of the season. Fast forward to now and Fox Sports reports that not only is the team “open” to trading Aiyuk, but “there has been communication with several teams” though the catch here is the contract he has and the bonus it contains.
San Francisco 49ers star Brandon Aiyuk with question marks around him in front of Levi’s Stadium.
“Things are a bit more tenuous, however, between the Niners and their WR1,” Jordan Schultz wrote. “Sources indicate that the 49ers are open to trading Aiyuk — a terrific player who will certainly be motivated — and there has been communication with several teams. However, trading for Aiyuk’s contract coming off an ACL injury is a tall order, and most believe it is unlikely. The timing here is crucial: Aiyuk has a guaranteed option bonus of nearly $23 million that triggers on April 1, making it harder to move him afterward.”
San Francisco 49ers star Brandon Aiyuk with question marks around him in front of Levi’s Stadium.
49ers trading Brandon Aiyuk seems to be slim
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) walks on the field before the start of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Levi’s Stadium.
Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
It would be interesting if the team ends up trading Aiyuk, especially since former 49ers receiver Deebo Samuel was dealt to the Washington Commanders. Still, Schultz reporting even has a quite from a personnel director that expressed how it would be a “pretty big surprise” if San Francisco would end up dealing Aiyuk.
“It would be a pretty big surprise for me,” the personnel director said via Fox Sports.
David Lombardi of SF Standard also spoke about the likelihood of Aiyuk getting traded and labeled it as very small.
San Francisco 49ers star Brandon Aiyuk with question marks around him in front of Levi’s Stadium.
“If the 49ers do trade him,” Lombardi said. “Which again, I’m going to emphasize this right now. It’s very unlikely because of the ACL and the MCL. That is a lot of savings for San Francisco over the course of the next several seasons. About $50 million of guaranteed money, or effectively guaranteed money for Brandon Aiyuk, would be shipped off to another team. But that’s why it’s going to be hard to move off of that money. There’s a lot of it, and Brandon Aiyuk is not yet fully healthy.”
At any rate, the 49ers are looking to improve after last season finishing with a 6-11 record a year after going to the Super Bowl.
Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks reportedly interested in surprise first-round QB prospect..
Tyler Shough
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks have both gotten new quarterbacks this offseason. Well, the Steelers still haven’t officially gotten theirs, but after Russell Wilson and Justin Fields signed elsewhere, Mike Tomlin is guaranteed to have a new starting QB, possibly even Aaron Rodgers.
Meanwhile, the Seahawks made arguably the most surprising quarterback move of the offseason by signing Sam Darnold to a three-year contract worth $100.5 million. Yet despite both teams moving in a different direction, that apparently hasn’t ruled them out from selecting a quarterback in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Related: 2025 NFL mock draft: Latest Round 1 projections after first wave of free agency
Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks eyeing Tyler Shough as a first-round prospect..
Tyler Shough
Tyler Shough
Credit: Scott Utterback/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Seattle Seahawks have the 18th overall pick in the first round. The Pittsburgh Steelers have the 21st overall pick. Each team likely has other needs they’d prefer to focus on to help them make a playoff appearance in 2025.
Tyler Shough
However, Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline suggests both teams could still be eyeing Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough in the first round of the draft.
“Some believe he could end up in Round 1, an opinion I do not share, with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks whispered around league circles as interested. Everyone I’ve spoken to says to keep an eye on the Browns, New York Giants, and Las Vegas Raiders at the top of Round 2.”
