Lions Decline San Francisco 49ers Contract Offer For One Strong Player

Entering the final year of his contract, on the fifth-year option and coming off back-to-back seasons with at least 75 catches, over 1,000 yards and at least seven touchdowns, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk would like to get paid.

According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network in late March,, the two sides “are not close” to a deal and trade rumors around Aiyuk persist as the draft approaches. The top potential suitors are easy to name, matching need with the ability to pay Aiyuk on the back end of a trade to get him.

It’s safe to say the Detroit Lions have not made (and will not make) any list of top trade suitors for Aiyuk, even if the trade cost wouldn’t necessarily be that high. They have a lot of their own players to pay coming up, not the least of which is wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. There’s just not realistic room to pay two wide receivers near the top of the market long-term contracts.

Wild trade proposal would seriously tilt NFC power race toward Lions
The 49ers attempted to poach tight end Brock Wright from the Lions with an eye-opening offer sheet that ultimately wasn’t quite what it seemed and Detroit matched it. Going the other direction, a recent trade proposal from FanSided’s Lior Lampert is a few notches above trying to sign a milquetoast No. 2 tight end.

Wide receiver may be on the Lions’ radar at pick No. 29. So parting with that pick for the proven commodity Aiyuk is could be made to make sense. But that would require leaving aside the looming contract Aiyuk wants and has earned, and that just can’t be done.

Aiyuk is just 26 year old, so he has some peak years left and an offense that throws the ball more than San Francisco does could unlock a different level for him. The Lions do have something of a void at wide receiver; to whatever degree and unless or until it ends up being filled.
It’s a nice idea to weaken the 49ers’ offense, while creating a major strength for yourself, if you’re the Lions.

But Aiyuk-to-Detroit is simply not happening, due to the looming contract that has to be factored in by any team who has interest in him.

Before we answer that question, it’s important to understand what type of tight end the 49ers are looking for.

They drafted two last year — Cameron Latu and Brayden Willis. Willis was a decent special teams player, but Latu was flat-out awful at everything in training camp, which is why he spent the season on I.R. and the 49ers recently tried to sign Lions backup tight end Brock Wright. Ultimately, the 49ers were unsuccessful in acquiring Wright, which means they have to draft one for the second year in a row.

Before we answer that question, it’s important to understand what type of tight end the 49ers are looking for. They’re looking for a backup who specializes in blocking. Not a starter. Not the next George Kittle. Merely the next Charlie Woerner, who was the 49ers’ blocking tight end from 2020 to 2023 before signing this offseason with the Atlanta Falcons for three years and $12 million. Keep in mind, Woerner caught just 11 passes in four seasons with the 49ers. He was just a blocker, and a good one.

When the 49ers drafted Latu, they probably thought he could replace Woerner, because they tested similarly at the NFL Scouting Combine. Both are 6’4″, both are 245 pounds and both run 4.78 40s. They’re slow. Which means the 49ers most likely are looking for another slow tight end they can take on Day 3 of the Draft.

Michigan’s A.J. Barner would fit what the 49ers are looking for. He’s the top-rated blocking tight end in the draft and he should be available in Round 4 or 5. And he caught only 64 passes in college, but Michigan rarely passes the ball, so he might have untapped potential as a receiver.