After star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk requested a trade from the team this month following failed contract negotiations, the San Francisco 49ers have a bit of a decision to make that could involve trading a different wide receiver.
As NFL insider Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk points out, the San Francisco 49rs could opt to trade wide receiver Deebo Samuel instead of Brandon Aiyuk, and then use the salary cap space that opens up to sign Aiyuk to a long-term contract where he’s paid as the team’s top wide receiver.
“With the 49ers now facing a formal trade request from Aiyuk, one potential path out of the maze would include trading Deebo and paying Aiyuk as the team’s WR1,” Florio wrote for Pro Football Talk.
“Frankly, Aiyuk performed like the team’s WR1 last year. Even though he had only 105 targets in 16 regular-season games last year, Deebo had only 89 in 15. As to receptions, Aiyuk had 75 for 1,342 yards. Deebo had 60 for 892.”
Obviously, this decision has sparked a lot of conversation and debate from fans on social media.
Yes this is exactly what they should do
— Al Calo (@Calo_FF) July 21, 2024
Obviously that would be ideal, but what a Deebo trade would have to look like to do that and what it would have to look like for another team to be interested are two different things.
— Chrismachine (@Chrismachine4) July 21, 2024
They should try and win the superbowl this year and then make the moves in the offseason
— Todd (@ztoady) July 21, 2024
Why on earth would they do this when they can make him play out the final year of his rookie deal and possibly franchise him the next 2 season. Looking for clicks?
— Derek (@derekmichael87) July 21, 2024
This is what happens when a team imbibes all the chatter from outside before making decisions.
— Dr. A. K. O. Etuazim (@DEtuazim) July 21, 2024
Let this season play out, they'll have enough cap $'s once Trent Williams retire after this season.
— Dragonball (@DanChew68) July 21, 2024
It will be interesting to see how the 49ers choose to handle this situation and which player they choose to move forward with. Because it does not appear that they can keep both in the long run.
