The first round’s penultimate pick added more intrigue to the trade drama between the 49ers and Brandon Aiyuk. The defending NFC champions selected Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall at No. 31, bringing in a rookie-contract receiver — albeit one that did not receive much buzz as a Round 1 option — hours after a report surfaced indicating the team held talks involving Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel.
No trade materialized, and the 49ers’ ask calls into question how viable a move will be after Round 1’s conclusion. The 49ers targeted a mid-first-round pick for Aiyuk, The Athletic’s Matt Barrows tweets. Aiyuk has not requested a trade, but extension talks between he and the 49ers have not progressed, which remind of the team’s drama with Samuel two years ago.
Aiyuk is seeking a deal worth at least $25MM per year, according to the San Francisco Chronicle’s Eric Branch; following the $30MM-plus agreements for A.J. Brown and Amon-Ra St. Brown, it would not surprise if his price has climbed this week.
The best tradeoffer to emerge included a second-round pick, Barrows adds. A 2022 Jets offer for Samuel included the No. 10 overall pick, though that was not a straight-up offer — as it included pick swaps — but Aiyuk remains a 49er after Thursday night brought another chapter to this saga. Aiyuk even congratulated GM John Lynch (via text) on choosing Pearsall, whom he played with at Arizona State back in 2019.
“You never close the door on a trade,” Lynch said, via Branch. “You always listen. And we have. But we like our group as it stands.”
The Jaguars were among the teams to inquire about Aiyuk, Barrows adds. Jacksonville ended up with LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr. after trading down (via Minnesota), taking one suitor off the board. The Steelers, who chose an O-lineman in Round 1, also inquired about Aiyuk before the draft. Another team that held a mid-first-round pick discussed swapping choices in an Aiyuk deal, per Barrows, but no offer emerged. It should be difficult for the 49ers to pull off a deal involving Day 2 picks, ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner offers, though it perhaps should not be deemed impossible.
It is possible Pearsall profiles as a player who will eventually — perhaps as soon as 2025 — replace either Aiyuk or Samuel. The 49ers have Aiyuk tied to a fifth-year option worth $14.12MM. Lynch said before the draft he would not anticipate an Aiyuk trade, and while the eighth-year GM has spoken of the financial difficulties in play here, the team could opt to keep Aiyuk on the option and reassess this situation in 2025 — perhaps via a tag-and-trade scenario.
Pearsall joins Aiyuk, Samuel and Jauan Jennings as San Francisco’s top WR. The Arizona State and Florida product’s rookie deal will run through 2028, via the fifth-year option. With Brock Purdy extension-eligible in 2025, the 49ers may need to make an Aiyuk-or-Samuel choice, as the contracts of George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey expire in 2026.
Aiyuk, 26, still profiles as a player the 49ers will need if they want to navigate that elusive Super Bowl hurdle; it will be interesting to see if more trade talks emerge on Day 2 or following the draft, as a post-draft extension — along the lines of how the Samuel saga ended in 2022 — may not be in the cards based on the Pearsall pick.
I mean, depending where the 2nd is I’d take the 2nd and ask for a 2025 3rd or 2025 4th.
Purdy has 2 years left on his rookie contract. You can’t pay everyone.
Pearsall replaces Aiyuk
George Kittle in getting up there in age so 49ers might think about drafting a replacement soon.
Ward Collins Greenlaw are free agents after this year so may need to think about their replacements.
Again can’t pay everyone and with a Purdy extension looming you don’t want to commit too much money and could use some cheap rookie contracts on the books.
Bills have to do something at WR right? Might as well get an experienced vet for Josh to work with.
I’d send the 49ers 33 for him or offer them 60 and some 2025 day 3 picks.
Bills saved money dealing Diggs and have clear need at WR.
They can trade 33 for Aiyuk and draft another receiver at 60 to improve the WR room.
The Bills have less than $3 million in cap space and they’ve already cut a ton of veterans. I don’t think it’s a realistic option, much as it would make sense player fit-wise.
This can be done.
The Bills are roughly 4 million is space and need to make 10-11 in space.
There are likely 3-4 smaller moves to make it work, but it can be done.
Who can they even restructure at this point? It looks like they’ve already gotten all their base salaries down very low.
Josh and Milano are two.
Allen’s base salary is already down to just over a million this year. I don’t think there’s any meat left on that bone. Milano is just over four. That’s not enough to make room for Aiyuk. They could immediately extend Aiyuk with a low year one base salary, but even then it’d be tight to even sign draft picks and leave room for little depth signings.
Thats not correct.
They didnt use all of Allens salary restructure available.
It is possible. That is why there is talk about it.
Overthecap says his base salary is down to $1.125 million.
Thats not correct.
Its closer to 8.
Overthecap and Spotrac have different numbers here. Weird.
They have options and will clear $10 million with the June cuts. Convert most of 2024 salary to bonus and they’re good to go.
I think the obvious answer would be
Negotiate a new contract which voids the 5th year tag prior to a trade.
Make salary this year fit the resteaints financially
But beef up the salary when more money frees up in coming years.
I’m not too versed in nfl contracts but I’d assume teams can adjust earnings year by year
Say Aiyuk gets his 4 year 100 mill deal.
His salary would be
1 year 4 mill
3 year 96 mill or however it breaks down on his earnings.
Thats extreme, but closer to the truth.
SF wouldn’t do the contract for us though. We would need to acquire him first.
It’s possible – but not easy.
Id think 49ers would allow Buf to negotiate the contract with Aiyuk and to be approved upon completion of the trade.
I don’t think Buffalo swings a trade without an agreement in place from Aiyuk already to a new contract.
Or at the very least Bills send over a contract offer and 49ers approach Aiyuk about it. Like hey we have a trade in place but only if you approve this new contract.
That you Arty!
This draft is making me anxious.
The best explanation I have is that they are setting up for Aiyuk.
That first trade down was strange, but they’re pretty well situated in terms of receivers and corners still on the board.
Maybe.
Its risky.
Im personally hoping for McConkey, but Im not at all happy about ending up with AD Mitchell.
Hard pass on a lazy player.
Even Mconkey has size questions – but Im ok with that given his style being closer to Diggs. ( who didn’t have + size either)
Creating this big whole and then betting in the second tier guys seems very reckless.
The Bills need not 1 but 2 receivers. There better be an Fng plan.
The frustration is understandable. I think the plan is that they can still be pretty good while eating their cap vegetables this year, then after the season they can cut Miller, have a nice cap situation, and fully transition into the next era.
Washington’s pick at #40 for Aiyuk
As a Steelers fan I don’t want any part of a trade for #51 pick with SF for Aiyuk. Draft the best C available and look to get a WR with one of the 3rd round picks.
Agree with the center idea but after all of the moves this incredible off season, relying on the draft for a starting receiver…especially in later rounds…is untenable.
I’d love for them to get a center and Aiyuk, Sutton or whomever. And with a number of big time centers still on the board, it’s all do-able. I just think that the biggest stumbling block would be what Aiyuk wants for a contract
Perfect draft by Khan, IMO.