By Adam Kerr
In what has been a somewhat slow NFL offseason in terms of trades, the football world got its first big trade news in July. Brandon Aiyuk, the San Francisco 49ers’ All-Pro Wide Receiver requested to be traded from the NFC powerhouse after talks on a contract extension hit a stalemate. The news does not surprise many, however, because contract talks reportedly stopped months ago. In preparation for this moment, the 49ers drafted Florida WR Ricky Pearsall Jr. in the first round of this year’s draft. Of course, the Niners survived Deebo Samuel’s 2022 trade request, but in case Aiyuk’s situation does not end the same for San Fran, here are some destinations they can send the star.
Washington Commanders
One of the most-mocked trade destinations for Brandon Aiyuk is the Washington Commanders. Aiyuk has expressed interest in teaming up with his former Arizona State QB Jayden Daniels. Amid the trade drama, Aiyuk filmed himself on the phone with Daniels telling him that the 49ers didn’t want him back. Not to mention their surplus of assets, the Commanders could push themselves into the next tier of contention. A package along the lines of a first or second-round pick and young WR Jahan Dotson would likely be more than enough to land Aiyuk and form one of the most lethal wideout duos in the league with him and Terry McLaurin sharing the field. Adding Aiyuk would also put together a very balanced mix of young stars and veteran playmakers such as Austin Ekeler and Zach Ertz on offense. If the Commanders truly want to set themselves apart from the other teams rebuilding with young QBs, acquiring Brandon Aiyuk is a no-brainer.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have without a doubt been the most mentioned team when it comes to acquiring Brandon Aiyuk and taking their offense to another level. Pittsburgh is trying to stay in contention for the near future with Mike Tomlin at the helm of it all. In doing so, they’ve brought in QBs Russell Wilson and Justin Fields in hopes that one of them will lead the black & gold back to the playoffs. However, that is a tall task with the wide receiver room looking how it is. George Pickens is a great young talent, but he is not yet ready to carry an offense on his own. Adding in Brandon Aiyuk would not only be the best move to keep the offense among the best in the league, but it could help both Wilson and Fields revive their careers before it’s too late. The cost for the Steelers to land Aiyuk would probably not be much more than a first-round pick. To most, that is more than worth it for the Steelers to acquire one of the best receivers in the game and stay competitive under Mike Tomlin.
New England Patriots
With the Jerod Mayo era of Patriots football being ushered in this upcoming season, the main goal for New England is clear: don’t let Drake Maye turn out like Mac Jones. From the jump, Mac Jones wasn’t given the ability to form an elite connection with a teammate wide receiver. This (along with many other reasons), led the Patriots to trade Jones to the Jaguars and select Drake Maye in this year’s draft. With their top wide receiver expected to be K.J. Osborn, the Vikings’ former third-string wide receiver, an upgrade at that top spot would do wonders for that offense. Not to mention their picks likely have great value when looking at their roster on paper. With that being said, not much more than a first could probably get the job done for New England. Of course, the Patriots shouldn’t be going too hard on contending now, since that is just near impossible with this roster. However, giving your rookie QB the ability to develop with a star receiver is something that no front office should pass up on.
Los Angeles Chargers
Although the Chargers may not be the most likely destination for Aiyuk, it is surely one of the best fits. Since Jim Harbaugh came in, he has immediately changed the team’s culture. He has greatly improved the defense and offensive line while sacrificing the passing game. Despite being a run-first offense, getting Justin Herbert receivers better than Joshua Palmer and DJ Chark would no doubt please the star QB. Putting the offense in the hands of J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards isn’t the best idea to do when trying to contend for a Super Bowl (just ask their own Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman). That is why trading for a star Wide Receiver like Aiyuk makes too much sense. However, there has been no buzz regarding the Chargers looking to upgrade the receiving room, and all of the trade rumors that seem to have merit have them upgrading the defensive end of the ball. So while very plausible, the Chargers are an unlikely destination for Brandon Aiyuk.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars are an interesting team when it comes to trading for Aiyuk. Their top wide receiver is Gabe Davis, so an upgrade at the position would be appreciated by Trevor Lawrence and Doug Pederson. However, the Jaguars believe that Trevor Lawrence is top-money worthy, and therefore may think he doesn’t need an elite receiving group to help his offense compete. While they may have a point that he doesn’t need all the help in the world to be great, the notion that he is an elite QB is just false at this point. Trevor Lawrence is good, but if the Jags refuse to give him help every year, he will forever be remembered as a bust. They have more than enough to acquire Aiyuk, and missing out on a window with who may be the best QB in team history would be something that the front office and fans alike would regret for years. While Brandon Aiyuk may not be the only answer for the Jaguars, they need to prove that they are buying in on Trevor Lawrence sooner rather than later.
