Done Deal Confirm: San Francisco 49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan Lands In With Another wide receiver
The San Francisco 49ers are willing to trade wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk for a first-round pick in the 2024 – but they have a steep price that rival teams will have to meet if a deal is to be done.
There was reportedly tension between San Francisco and the 26 year old after February’s Super Bowl LVIII defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs in overtime. Aiyuk only caught three passes for 49 yards in the 25-22 loss, which led to frustration from his camp over how he was being used.
“Don’t forget what got you there,” Aiyuk said in a mysterious Instagram Story. And his girlfriend Rochelle Searight followed up on TikTok: “This might be the last day that we touch foot on Levi’s Stadium, me and Brandon. Because we might not be out here next season.”
However, Aiyuk is not a free agent this offseason, and the only way he can leave the 49ers is via a trade – because San Francisco picked up his fifth-year option, guaranteeing him an annual salary of $14 million.
READ MORE: Kansas City Chiefs face Odell Beckham Jr decision after first NFL team meeting
READ MORE: Caleb Williams makes instant impression as NFL fans go mad over No.1 NFL Draft prospect
According to The Athletic, San Francisco will listen to trade offers for Aiyuk throughout the first round of next month’s NFL Draft – the first round being their asking price. However they are not desperate and won’t let him go for less than they want, just like they did with Deebo Samuel when they received offers from the New York Jets and the Detroit Lions.
Apparently, the Pittsburgh Steelers, who recently acquired two quarterbacks – Russell Wilson and Justin Fields – and the New England Patriots are both interested in bringing Aiyuk on board. The Patriots, who currently have the third overall NFL Draft pick, are likely to use it on a quarterback, with LSU’s Jayden Daniels being a top choice.
They might also consider using future draft stock to tempt the 49ers into a trade and give any prospective rookie QB an offensive weapon.
Meanwhile, the Steelers are 20th on the board in the first round. NFL.com predicts that Pittsburgh will draft offensive tackle Tyler Guyton from Oklahoma.
Other teams might also decide to join the race for Aiyuk, like the Jacksonville Jaguars, who are 17th on the board and in need of receiver The team lost Calvin Ridley to the Tennessee Titans but did bring in ex-Buffalo Bills receiver Gabe Davis.
If the Jaguars stick with Gabe Davis, Zay Jones, and Christian Kirk, it could spell trouble for them in 2024. Adding Aiyuk, who has averaged nearly 100 targets a season, could significantly improve Trevor Lawrence’s offense.
The buzz of the free agency frenzy might have quieted down for now, but that does not mean the moves made in March will be forgotten when the 2024 NFL season kicks off in September — especially when it comes to divisional races. While it’s true that free-agent signings don’t typically lift a team from worst to first, new talent can shift the balance of power between contenders.
After taking some time to sort through the transaction sheet from the past few weeks, I thought I’d spotlight one free-agent signing in each division with the potential to seriously impact the chase for the No. 1 spot in 2024
There is no doubt the Jets are in win-now mode after signing this big-play specialist. Williams gives Aaron Rodgers a big-bodied playmaker to target down the field, particularly on back-shoulder fades against one-on-one coverage. In addition, Williams’ effectiveness on 50/50 balls makes him a dangerous option in the red zone, with teams looking to bracket Garrett Wilson in clutch moments. Buffalo and Miami each won 11 games in 2023, but neither team is a lock to dominate the division in 2024. Presuming Williams is able to stay healthy (he missed 18 games over the past two seasons, including most of 2023 after suffering a torn ACL), his presence should ensure the Jets’ offense has the firepower to help Rodgers push this team back to the playoffs for the first time since 2010.
