Brandon Aiyuk Trade Reportedly Unlikely Due to ACL Injury, Contract amid 49ers Rumors

The San Francisco 49ers are unlikely to trade wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, per Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports, who cited him coming off a torn ACL and his contract (four-year, $120 million extension).

"Things are a bit more tenuous, however, between the Niners and their WR1," Schultz began.

"Sources indicate that the 49ers are open to trading Aiyuk — a terrific player who will certainly be motivated — and there has been communication with several teams. However, trading for Aiyuk's contract coming off an ACL injury is a tall order, and most believe it is unlikely. 

"The timing here is crucial: Aiyuk has a guaranteed option bonus of nearly $23 million that triggers on April 1, making it harder to move him afterward."

One personnel director told Schultz on a potential trade that "it would be a pretty big surprise for me."

Aiyuk, 27, caught 25 passes for 374 yards and no touchdowns in seven games last season before suffering a torn ACL and MCL against the Kansas City Chiefs on Oct. 20. The year before, Aiyuk enjoyed a stellar campaign, snagging 75 passes for 1,342 yards and seven scores while helping lead the 49ers to an NFC title.

Aiyuk's name has been thrown around in trade talks because of the massive $22.9 million roster bonus due to him on April 1. Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported as much as the Scoop City podcast (h/t Grant Cohn of San Francisco 49ers on SI).

"The 49ers have incentive to move Brandon Aiyuk before his April 1 payday," Russini said. "They've gotten some calls about him. We know that they signed him to a new contract last summer and we all know the drama that came with that. It's a $22.855 million roster bonus. There's some chatter that perhaps they're going to move him and that teams are interested."

However, Russini also said that she didn't think a trade would be likely.

"I don't get the sense that it's a reality," she said. "I'm sure that the 49ers would like to do it because of the finances. Why would a team be so open about this? There must be something else."

So it seems as though Aiyuk will be sticking around San Francisco, which means a massive bonus headed his way soon enough.

The 49ers certainly hope Aiyuk can find his old form. There's two issues on that front. First, Aiyuk is coming back from a serious knee injury, but second, he hadn't fared well in the seven games before the ailment occurred.

Perhaps that could be somewhat attested the lack of an offseason, which Aiyuk sat out as he was searching for a new deal. Aiyuk was nearly traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers before the 49ers and him struck a new deal in the 25th hour.

San Francisco general manager John Lynch told reporters last month at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis (h/t Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area) that Aiyuk is "doing really well" in his rehab.

“I know that anecdotally, he's doing really well,” Lynch said. “Our trainers who have been with him say he's doing very well. He’s putting in the work, that's what you have to do. And like I've always said, the real top end athletes tend to heal at a little faster rate and I think that's going on with Brandon as well.”

So hopefully that continues for Aiyuk and he's able to enjoy a healthy and productive offseason as he returns to the mix. Failing an unlikely trade, San Francisco could certainly be relying on him more this season after dealing fellow star wideout Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders.