49ers G.M. John Lynch was asked on Monday about the potential of receiver Brandon Aiyuk being traded this week, to which Lynch responded, “I wouldn’t anticipate that.” This response falls short of a definitive “no,” leaving the possibility of a trade open. According to Mike Silver of the San Francisco Chronicle, a trade cannot be completely ruled out.
The ideal time for a trade would be when the 49ers are acquiring a pick during the draft. This strategy allows the team to have control over the board and prevents other teams from jumping in. Silver reports that the 49ers are seeking a first-round pick in exchange for Aiyuk, in addition to the new team needing to offer a contract that the 49ers have not presented to date.
It is vital to consider that the 49ers have established a value for Aiyuk based on their four years with him, and a new team would need to exceed this value to obtain him. Factors such as the influence of coach Kyle Shanahan on Aiyuk’s performance and the presence of talented players on the San Francisco offense could affect his success on another team.
In considering a potential trade, Aiyuk may realize that his best decision could be to remain with the 49ers. The optimal scenario would involve a team like the Steelers providing an enticing offer to both Aiyuk and the 49ers to facilitate the trade.