The San Francisco 49ers already traded one of their top receivers, Deebo Samuel, during the 2025 NFL offseason. It doesn’t look like Brandon Aiyuk will meet the same fate.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the 49ers ‘are not expected to trade’ Aiyuk before Tuesday, when he is due a $22.85 million roster bonus. Once that bonus is paid, it is expected the 49ers will prefer to keep the 27-year-old receiver for the 2025 season.
Aiyuk has been the subject of trade rumors since his holdout from 49ers camp during the 2024 NFL offseason. He was seeking a long-term contract after a 2023 season during which he made 75 catches for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns while earning an All-Pro second team nod.
Aiyuk missed the entire preseason while away from the team, and it appeared the 2020 first-round pick might legitimately consider sitting out regular-season games. However, the two parties avoided that reality by agreeing to a four-year, $120 million season on Aug. 29, just 11 days before San Francisco’s Week 1 game.
Aiyuk was able to start Week 1 but played a career-low seven games for the 49ers in 2024. He made 25 catches for 374 yards and no touchdowns before suffering a season-ending ACL and MCL tears in the team’s Week 7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
It isn’t clear exactly when Aiyuk will be ready to play in 2025, but it might not be in Week 1. Schefter reported on his podcast that he ‘would think (Aiyuk is) ready to play by midseason.’