Brandon Aiyuk landing spots: Best trade fits for 49ers WR after GM John Lynch says team is listening to offers

Deebo Samuel may not be the only San Francisco 49ers receiver possibly on the move this offseason. While Samuel has requested a trade out of the Bay Area, general manager John Lynch acknowledged this week that teams have also called the organization regarding the availability of fellow wideout Brandon Aiyuk. Lynch added that the team is listening to those calls. 

“Yeah, that typically happens with really good players,” Lynch said Wednesday in Indianapolis at the NFL Scouting Combine, via 49ers Webzone. “I remember, I think two years ago, having similar conversations. You get calls, and you always listen to calls.”

The fact that San Francisco is at least listening to those calls suggests that it’s not out of the question that it moves off Aiyuk this offseason. If that ultimately comes to pass, it would be a rather remarkable calendar year between the team and the wideout. Talks of the Niners moving on from Aiyuk was a main storyline last offseason and bled into training camp before the two sides ultimately agreed on a four-year, $120 million extension. 

Just months after inking that extension, Aiyuk’s 2024 season was cut short after he suffered a torn ACL and MCL in the club’s Week 7 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. Given his uncertainty heading into 2025 because of that injury, it’ll be curious to see if that dents his value on the trade market. 

Aiyuk has spent his entire career with the 49ers ever since the organization selected him with the No. 25 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Arizona State. His best season in the league came in 2023 where he tallied 105 catches for 1,342 yards receiving and seven touchdowns. Before suffering his season-ending injury last year, he had 25 catches for 374 yards. 

As for where Aiyuk could end up if the 49ers do decide to trade him, let’s take a gander at a trio of landing spots.

It’s no secret the Steelers are in the market for a wide receiver, as they’ve been looking to add to that position group over the past calendar year. In fact, Aiyuk was one of their targets last summer, and Pittsburgh reportedly had a deal in place with San Francisco to deal for the receiver before he ultimately decided to stay with the 49ers and sign his extension. Could Pittsburgh simply call Lynch up and spark those conversations again with just some tweaks on those initial parameters?

The Commanders have the third-highest amount of cap space in the NFL at roughly $81.9 million, so they could absorb Aiyuk’s contract. Of course, Aiyuk has a built-in relationship with reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels, as the two played together at Arizona State in 2019. That connection formed a natural link between Aiyuk and Washington last year when his name was shopped around, and it makes sense for it to come about again this time around. The Commanders also need to add another pass catcher opposite of Terry McLaurin. Last season, the club’s second-leading pass catcher was tight end Zach Ertz, who is now 34 years old and set to become an free agent. 

The Patriots have been starved for wide receiver talent for as far back as one can remember, and bolstering the position group should be a key area for them to address this offseason. They have the most cap space in the NFL at $127.7 million this cycle, so bringing in his contract shouldn’t be too cumbersome. While there is a slight concern with him coming off a season-ending knee injury, he is young enough that teams should expect a full recovery. Aiyuk is going to be 27 years old at the start of next season, making him a pass-catching option who can help Drake Maye develop for the foreseeable future.