Despite the San Francisco 49ers digging their heels in on not wanting to trade All-Pro receiver Brandon Aiyuk, it’s tough to see a deal getting worked out when neither side appears willing to bend a little in contract negotiations.
Aiyuk officially requested to be traded on Tuesday, and with several teams reportedly calling the 49ers about his availability, it would behoove the team to at least hear what those teams have to say.
Here are four trade offers that the 49ers should at least consider for Aiyuk:
Trade 1
49ers receive: WR Terry McLaurin, 2025 fourth-round pick
Commanders receive: Aiyuk, 2025 seventh-round pick
Given Aiyuk’s close relationship with Commanders rookie QB Jayden Daniels and the number of times he’s specifically alluded to wanting to play in Washington, this seems like the deal to make.
The positives for the 49ers is that McLaurin is only two years older than Aiyuk and is already a proven commodity in the NFL (he has four straight 70-reception, 1,000-yard seasons). Plus, he’s under contract for two more seasons at a very affordable $24.1 million in 2024 and $25M in 2025, giving San Francisco an out after two years if it doesn’t want to pay a 30-year-old in the $25M-plus range.
On the other hand, Washington gets a 26-year-old top-10 receiver just entering his prime who happens to be best friends with and has experience with its rookie QB in college. Adding Aiyuk would be the best thing the Commanders could do to help Daniels adjust to the NFL, and making a splashy trade such as this one is the kind of move a team under new ownership might make to generate even more buzz.
Trade 2
49ers receive: 2025 first-round pick, 2025 third-round pick
Steelers receive: Aiyuk
Because the Steelers don’t really have a second-tier receiver they can send back the other way who’s better than what the 49ers currently have (Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall), they’re going to have to pay a little more, hence the inclusion of their first-rounder.
But it might be worth paying if the team wants QB Russell Wilson to succeed. A depth chart of Aiyuk, George Pickens, Van Jefferson and rookie Roman Wilson reads much better than what Pittsburgh has now, and it gives Wilson two legit weapons on the outside capable of drawing double teams and opening up the opposite side of the field.
Fortunately for the 49ers, they used their 2024 first-round pick on Pearsall, a human highlight reel capable of doing a lot of the same things Aiyuk does, and they brought back Jennings, who really came into his own in an expanded role last year when Deebo Samuel was injured for a few games. And though their passing game will be weaker without Aiyuk, it’ll likely only drop from top-five to top-15, and the prospect of adding additional picks next year in rounds 1 and 3 is tempting.
Trade 3
49ers receive: WR Quentin Johnston, 2025 second-round pick
Chargers receive: Aiyuk
Justin Herbert desperately needs a legitimate weapon to throw to, and landing a player of Aiyuk’s caliber may be too enticing to pass up. Losing Johnston may sting a little, especially considering he was L.A.’s first-round pick in 2023, but his rookie year was a bit of a disappointment, and if parting with him lands you Aiyuk, then it’s really a no-brainer. There’s no question Herbert would much rather throw to the trio of Aiyuk, Joshua Palmer and Ladd McConkey than any combination of WRs he has right now.
While Johnston’s rookie season was a bit underwhelming (67 targets, 38 receptions, 431 yards and two touchdowns), he still has plenty of raw talent to work with, and playing in Kyle Shanahan’s system could help unlock that potential. Johnston is also only 22, and he comes at a much more affordable salary of $3.2M, $3.8M and $4.5M, respectively, over the next three seasons. Adding an extra second-rounder is the real appeal here, though, as general manager John Lynch is known to like having a surplus of draft capital to move around the draft.
Trade 4
49ers receive: WR Davante Adams, 2025 fourth-round pick
Raiders receive: Aiyuk
It was speculated (but not confirmed) that the Raiders are interested in acquiring Aiyuk if he’s truly available. With recent speculation that Davante Adams wants out of Vegas and into a better situation with a proven QB, this deal is a win-win for both sides. The Raiders get a 26-year-old star receiver to pair with 2024 first-round pick Brock Bowers and form the building blocks of a potent passing attack that could flourish if the team acquires a legitimate QB in 2025.
The 49ers get a top-10 receiver under team control for three more seasons who can step right in, replace Aiyuk, and help keep the team’s Super Bowl window open. Salary cap implications would have to be worked out given Adams’ salary, but the 49ers are experts at working around cap restrictions and finding ways to make the money work in keeping star players.