Brandon Aiyuk Is Available for a Bargain Price. Which Team Actually Pulls the Trigger?
Brandon Aiyuk was one of the top receivers in the NFC in 2023. Now he is on the discount rack, and the San Francisco 49ers cannot wait to get rid of him.
The 49ers voided Aiyuk’s 2026 guarantees and made it clear he is on the trade market. That is essentially a fire sale sign. Aiyuk had a solid but unspectacular 2024 season followed by a lost 2025 season that included a serious knee injury and prolonged rehab. San Francisco has moved on. They want him gone before training camp.
The price should be low. That is what makes this interesting. A receiver who was recently paid like a top-15 WR is now available for a mid-round pick because his physical condition and cap number no longer make sense for the 49ers. Teams looking for a proven, if slightly damaged, veteran can get one at a bargain.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are the obvious landing spot. Aaron Rodgers just came out of the offseason wanting more receivers around him. DK Metcalf is elite. Beyond him, the Steelers depth chart at receiver has questions. Adding Aiyuk gives Rodgers a legitimate No. 2 option, and Rodgers has always been able to rehabilitate receivers who were not quite fits elsewhere.
The New England Patriots are another target. The Patriots need weapons for Drake Maye. They just acquired A.J. Brown in a trade. Adding Aiyuk would give Maye an elite duo of receivers to work with as he continues to develop into a franchise quarterback. Bill O’Brien’s offense could use both.
The Kansas City Chiefs come up because they always come up. Andy Reid does not usually pursue veterans with injury concerns, but Aiyuk’s route-running would fit well with Patrick Mahomes’ improvisational style. If Aiyuk shows he can get open, Kansas City would love to have him.
The Cleveland Browns are the wild card. They have money. They have Dillon Gabriel as their new franchise quarterback. They need weapons to build around him. Adding Aiyuk would give Gabriel a proven receiver at a reasonable cost.
The medical questions are the biggest thing holding back the market. Aiyuk’s knee has to check out. He is 28 years old, coming off a serious injury, and his cap hit is not small even after any team-friendly restructure. Buyers are going to want to see him move at full speed before committing.
The 49ers do not really have a choice. Brock Purdy is entering his fifth year and is now the highest-paid quarterback in franchise history. The offense needs to fit around him. Ricky Pearsall is the young receiver they want to develop. Deebo Samuel is gone. Christian McCaffrey is still there. Aiyuk was going to be a fifth wheel at best.
What San Francisco really wants back is future capital. A conditional pick that becomes better if Aiyuk plays a certain amount would give the 49ers protection on both sides of the deal. The team acquiring him would only pay if he stays healthy.
Aiyuk’s own preferences matter here. He wants to be somewhere he can be a No. 1 receiver again. That points toward the Patriots, Steelers, or a team like the Bears where he could immediately step into the top slot on the depth chart. Kansas City makes less sense from that angle because he would be behind established options.
The deadline for a preseason move is essentially now. Training camps open in two weeks. Teams that want to acquire Aiyuk have to do it before then to integrate him into their offense.
Expect movement. The 49ers are motivated to sell. Multiple teams are motivated to buy. The only question is at what price.
Aiyuk to the Steelers is the pick. Get ready for that pairing with Rodgers.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
