While rumors have continued to swirl about the possibility of the San Francisco 49ers trading star wide receiver,
Brandon Aiyuk, some have held fast to the belief that the 49ers will not trade the player. Teams are calling about Aiyuk.
Reportedly, the Jacksonville Jaguars were interested but felt the 49ers asking price was too high.
And who could forget the talk of Aiyuk going to Pittsburgh when he fanned the trade rumor flames with a social media post about how he and Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin look alike? (Now that he mentions it, they do kind of look alike.)
But when push comes to shove, will the 49ers really consider trading Aiyuk? I suppose if the price is right, they will. But they’ve invested so much in him, from taking him 25th overall in the 2020 NFL draft to helping him develop into a dangerous weapon for one of the league’s best offenses. Aiyuk, a four-year pro, has surpassed 1,000 yards in both of his last two seasons.
Until the 49ers shock me by trading Aiyuk, I’ll stand by my statement that he won’t be moved. Here are four reasons why the 49ers won’t trade Aiyuk:
The 49ers are in win-now mode. They came close to winning the Super Bowl, and still have one of the best rosters in the NFL. Why would you trade away a talented wide receiver who finished 2023 with 75 catches, 1,342 yards, and seven touchdowns? Especially when there’s no one on the roster to replace him, as is the case with the 49ers right now.
Sure, the 49ers have players at the position, but none can fill Aiyuk’s shoes. He’s the best pure wide receiver on the team, runs the best routes on the team, and is also one of the better route-runners in the league. Who can replace him?
Deebo Samuel is one of the team’s stars on offense, but he can’t do what Aiyuk can do. Everyone loves Jauan Jennings, but he’s more of a number three guy. Could Danny Gray or Ronnie Bell make people forget about Aiyuk? It’s not likely.
