Earlier this week, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported that multiple teams are interested in trading for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. At the combine on Wednesday, GM John Lynch was asked about that report.
"Yeah, that typically happens with really good players," Lynch answered. "I remember, I think, two years ago, having similar conversations. You get calls, and you always listen to calls. I think since Kyle and I have been here, we've been certainly a top five, I believe, number two, cash-spending team in the four years. Going into the fourth year, I think we're the fourth-highest cash-spending team, so at some point, you have to reset a little bit or at least recalibrate. You can't just keep pressing the pedal, and I think there's some good that could come out.
"We need to get younger; I think we're the oldest team in football trying to make a run at the deal last year. And I think it's good to constantly get younger. Our draft class last year was a great move towards that. We'll have four picks in the top 100. If the comp picks happen, like we see it, that's always a calculation. We will have 10 picks overall, and we're excited about adding more youth to a great core of players that we already have."
Lynch notably didn't say the 49ers would not trade Aiyuk, who they gave a four-year, $120 million contract extension last August. He did, however, mention the team's need to get younger and even went as far as to mention how the high-spending 49ers may need to reset a little. This comes after the news broke that WR Deebo Samuel wants to be traded. Lynch said the team is willing to grant his request.
On Saturday, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport became the latest to suggest the 49ers may be open to trading Aiyuk.
"Guys, it got a little interesting this week, speaking of John Lynch," Rapoport said. "He was asked about some rumors that teams have called, or he's had conversations, surrounding potentially trading Brandon Aiyuk, who is injured and tore his ACL, may not be ready, we'll see, for the start of training or maybe the start of the season. Lynch said those conversations are productive. He said they do want to get younger; obviously, there is a lot of cash to go around this off-season, likely paying Brock Purdy. I would say it's a situation to keep an eye on for San Fran."
From our Combine coverage: A breakdown of some big-name WRs who could be traded, looking at Cooper Kupp, Deebo Samuel, and maybe even Brandon Aiyuk. pic.twitter.com/axg5HfChCR
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 1, 2025
The 49ers will face a substantial cap hit if they trade or release Samuel, especially if it happens before June 1st. Should they also trade Aiyuk, their dead cap hit would dramatically increase. For this reason, it seems unlikely that the 49ers would move on from both wide receivers. Not to mention, trading Samuel and Aiyuk would leave the 49ers receiver room with Jauan Jennings, second-year WR Ricky Pearsall, and second-year WR Jacob Cowing. Pearsall and Cowing are still unproven, though Pearsall came on late in the season.
Michael Silver of The Athletic was asked what he's hearing about Aiyuk. Silver responded, "The 49ers would be open to trading him, but I'm skeptical that anyone would take on that contract coming off the ACL." It does seem unlikely that any team would be willing to trade for a player who may not even be healthy in 2025, but stranger things have happened.
