Most of the dust has settled this NFL offseason as teams have mostly sorted out their depth charts following the draft and free agency. However, the San Francisco 49ers still face a major decision regarding wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and his future with the team.
Aiyuk officially requested a trade yesterday after months of back-and-forth with the organization, but one former GM believes his request will not be granted.
Mike Lombardi recently appeared on The Pat McAfee Show and stated, “The San Francisco 49ers aren’t trading Brandon Aiyuk.” He added that when an organization is well-aligned, external factors can’t significantly impact it, noting that the Niners are “perfectly aligned to handle this situation.”
Lombardi’s point is significant because the Niners rarely experience messy separations, making the Aiyuk situation unusual, especially with his thinly veiled shots at the team on social media.
Aiyuk has improved in each of his four seasons in the league and, with many other receivers receiving significant pay increases this offseason, he is justified in seeking a raise after a great season.
The resolution remains unclear since the Niners already have substantial financial commitments to Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, Christian McCaffrey, and Jauan Jennings, who signed a 2-year deal worth over $15 million this offseason.
The 49ers also drafted wide receiver Ricky Pearsall in the first round, suggesting a trade might be likely despite Lombardi’s disagreement.