ESPN’s Adam Schefter’s narrative during this segment on the Pat McAfee show came off as the 49ers are in a dire situation and need to make moves to operate this offseason, which is simply not the case.
Last weekend, a report surfaced that San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk could be the next wideout traded after the Niners moved Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders this past weekend.
During another segment on The Pat McAfee Show, Adam Schefter discussed Aiyuk’s potential move and why the Niners would consider such an idea.
“I think that the 49ers, in their particular financial situation, are open to listening on just about anybody. And so, if there’s a team out there that is willing to take on the Brandon Aiyuk contract, with him coming off the torn ACL, I’m sure they would listen.”
I could not imagine Kyle Shanahan, after seeing his offense’s success in 2023 and how Aiyuk was the driving factor in the passing game, could conclude that the offense would be better without Aiyuk.
The last time the 49ers traded a former first-round pick for financial reasons was DeForest Buckner. It’s 2025, and the Niners are still looking for his replacement. Buckner was and remains one of the upper-echelon players at his position.
Assuming you can replace Aiyuk’s production with a rookie or a combination of players on cheaper deals defeats the purpose of rewarding Aiyuk with a contract extension last offseason. He’s a special player who is entering his prime. That’s not to say he’ll be a top-five wideout the second Aiyuk returns to the field, but we have evidence of that kind of production. There are no gray areas with him.
Schefter understands how difficult an Aiyuk trade would be under the current circumstances:
“That’s not a simple thing to do. Look, if there’s no knee injury, it’s a simple deal. But because there’s a knee injury, because he may miss the first half of the next season, and there are questions about when he’ll get back next year, there are a whole host of pending issues.”
Adam, if there were no knee injuries, don’t lose to Seattle in Week 11 because Purdy would have another receiver to target. As fun as it was to stroll down memory lane with him, Deebo Samuel had seven targets that game for 22 yards.
In what world do the 49ers score six points against that Rams secondary with Aiyuk? That world does not exist. Those two wins might’ve been the difference to propel the 49ers into the playoffs or, at minimum, change the trajectory of the season.
We are not discussing trading Aiyuk if he does not sustain an injury. There are no rumors or leaks about the front office being unhappy if he plays all season because Aiyuk likely performs up to his contract level.
Schefter used Aiyuk as an example, but he believes the 49ers are not finished when it comes to making decisions about their roster:
“But the Niners, again, for them to play in the free agency sandbox, they’re going to have to find ways to clear out salary. Whether that’s through Brandon Aiyuk or Jordan Mason, or any other player that they don’t bring back or let go. They have to find ways to get money to help field the kind of roster they want. So, if an offer comes in on Brandon Aiyuk, and there’s a team out there that’s willing to take on that particular situation, I’m sure they would be open to listening to it.”
You have to listen if a team calls about anybody, whether Aiyuk, Brock Purdy, or Nick Bosa. That does not mean you must engage.
Pressing the reset button along the defensive line would help clear immediate cap space. Replacing Charvairus Ward and Talanoa Hufanga with veterans on a minimum contract or through the NFL Draft would save plenty of money.
Schefter’s narrative suggests that the Niners are in cap hell and must offload their best players. According to Over the Cap, San Francisco has $33 million in cap space.
It’s far from a dire situation that calls for the panic button. But this narrative will lead you to believe that Purdy shouldn’t be paid what the market says he’s worth, or Aiyuk needs to be traded “or else,” when that’s simply not the case.
Floyd, Javon Hargrave, and Yetur Gross-Matos all make sense to move on from. But the other contracts on the roster are the best players on the team. That’s the core of the roster and the reason the 49ers have and are still considered among the best teams in the conference.