The 49ers may not be able to trade Brandon Aiyuk for numerous reasons, which leads to a potentially bigger problem this season.
The San Francisco 49ers already endured a contemptuous standoff with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk last offseason, one that nearly resulted in a blockbuster trade amid tense contract-extension talks, only to be called off at the 11th hour, thanks to an intervention by head coach Kyle Shanahan.
Aiyuk got his extension, but further reports said there were plenty within the Niners' front office who weren't happy about making the former first-round draftee a $30 million per-year player, and those sentiments were exacerbated when Aiyuk suffered a torn ACL and MCL against the Kansas City Chiefs following what had been a lackluster 2024 campaign up to that point.
In tandem with San Francisco's current cost-cutting measures, which included trading away fellow wideout Deebo Samuel despite getting only a fifth-round draft pick in return and taking on $31-plus million in dead money, trading the still-injured Aiyuk sure seems like something the 49ers again want to revisit.
The problem, though, is no team is eager to take on a recovering player with a hefty contract, and the latest scuttlebutt about Aiyuk suggests that.
Aiyuk's option for 2026 becomes guaranteed on April 1, meaning if the Niners aren't able to trade him by then, he'll be owed his salary for that season, meaning San Francisco can't get out from under the guaranteed money for yet another year. This suggests Aiyuk remains with the team if he's not moved by that date.
And that creates yet another problem.
49ers must repair fractured relationship with Brandon Aiyuk
Shanahan pounded the table for the 49ers keeping Aiyuk last offseason, but the newfound hardline attitude on contracts hint at the head coach not having as much sway in player transactions as he used to.
That's potentially a problem for Aiyuk, who may not be able to return to the field until midway through 2025 after his injury recovery.
Putting things bluntly, after his controversial contractual standoff last offseason and all the current speculation about his future in the Bay Area, would Aiyuk even feel as if the Niners want him around?
Doubtful.
Money helps, yes. But Aiyuk certainly knows by know San Francisco would jettison him and its pending spend if it could. He also saw Samuel swiftly have his own trade request granted without any pushback.
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Shanahan comes back into play here, of course, as the lone voice who could appease Aiyuk's potentially damaged feelings about his current role and perception. With Samuel gone, and upon the receiver's return from injury, Aiyuk stands to benefit from bigger statistical production as the de fact No. 1 pass-catching target (a role he effectively had anyway in 2022 and 2023), and a featured role can alleviate sore sentiments.
However, damage has been done here. Even under the best of circumstances, it might not be repaired in full.
And the 49ers will have to figure out how that works going forward.
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