49ers have no plans to trade Brandon Aiyuk, GM says (2024)

The San Francisco 49ers have not had trade discussions involving receiver Brandon Aiyuk, general manager John Lynch said Monday.

Lynch added that the team is “actively talking” with Aiyuk about an extension.

“There are a number of different directions it can go,” Lynch said. “But we appreciate the heck out of Brandon and who he is as a player. We want him to be a part of the Niners, so we’re going to work towards making that a reality.”

Rumors have circulated this month that the 49ers were discussing potential deals with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Aiyuk-to-Pittsburgh rumor mill picked up steam last week when Aiyuk mentioned Mike Tomlin on X, formerly known as Twitter, asking if the Steelers’ coach thought the two looked like twins. Lynch said Tomlin asked him about that query when they saw each other Friday at the University of Michigan pro day.

“Mike coached me (in Tampa Bay) and so we’re very close,” Lynch said. “He’s like, ‘Bro, what’s going on?’ I promise you, we’ve got nothing — nothing is going on there.”

Later Monday, Aiyuk posted a story on his Instagram account:

Aiyuk led the 49ers with 75 catches and 1,342 receiving yards last season. He also caught seven touchdown passes and was named a second-team All-Pro.

The 26-year-old has spent his entire NFL career with San Francisco after the franchise selected him with the 25th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He’s played 62 games for the 49ers and has career totals of 269 catches and 3,931 yards.

Aiyuk is set to enter the final year of his rookie contract.

What to make of Lynch’s comments

Rumors of trade discussions involving the Jaguars and the Steelers over Aiyuk? They’re not true, according to Lynch, who said there have been no trade talks involving the 49ers receiver. Of course, that doesn’t mean those sorts of discussions won’t occur. Two years ago, the 49ers didn’t have any formal trade offers for Deebo Samuel until the day of the draft when the New York Jets and Detroit Lions both floated proposals. The 49ers rejected both and later signed Samuel to a three-year extension. As of now, that appears to be the course the Aiyuk situation will take. One way to gauge the 49ers’ interest in trading Aiyuk is to monitor how much work they’re doing with the top receivers in the draft. Two years ago, for instance, they didn’t show a lot of interest in the draft’s best wideouts, a signal they weren’t expecting to part ways with — and to replace — Samuel that spring. The draft begins one month from today. — Matt Barrows, 49ers writer

How 49ers could afford to keep Aiyuk

It’s important to consider that a contract extension for Aiyuk this offseason could actually save the 49ers 2024 salary-cap space. That’s because his current cap hit of $14.1 million is directly tied to the inflexible fifth-year option price tag. An extension would allow the 49ers to spread Aiyuk’s hit into future seasons. Of course, the 49ers must also be conscious of their spending in 2025 and beyond, especially since QB Brock Purdy will be eligible for a mega deal then. But the 49ers have deftly navigated the cap so far and they can be expected to continue doing so.

Their simple formula involves paying homegrown A-list players and replacing those who don’t make that superstar cut with cost-controlled talent, either through the draft or bargain-bin free agency. With the cap consistently increasing on an annual basis, the 49ers have been able to increase the size of their core. They believe Aiyuk’s play — he led the league in yards per catch and is one of the best run-blocking wideouts around — makes him an A-lister. Therefore, there should be room in the team’s budget to pay him. — David Lombardi, 49ers writer

Required reading

• 49ers depth chart: An early 53-man projection and look at roster complexion
• NFL mock draft: Vikings trade up, leading to QB-heavy top-4 selections
• How 49ers will handle Brandon Aiyuk? Is Drake Jackson on the bubble? Mailbag

(Photo: Perry Knotts / Getty Images)