Insider shares massive trade update on 49ers' Brandon Aiyuk

San Francisco 49ers and NFL insider Michael Silver of The San Francisco Chronicle suggested that the club could trade wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk before or during the draft that gets underway Thursday. 

Silver mentioned that the 49ers and Aiyuk "are far apart on negotiations for a lucrative contract extension." Silver also shared that San Francisco reached out to at least one general manager "through a back-channel confidant" to gauge his interest in trading for Aiyuk in the first week of April. 

According to Silver, the 49ers "have asked for" a 2024 first-round draft pick in return for Aiyuk but could accept a second-round choice "if that pick were near the start of the second round and packaged with another selection — say, a 2025 third-rounder." 

Aiyuk is in the final year of his rookie contract and has remained away from the team during voluntary workouts seemingly because he wants to get paid what he feels he's worth. Silver revealed that "sources around the league believe" Aiyuk is looking to sign a deal "with an annual average of well over $25M" that the 49ers haven't yet offered the 26-year-old. It's unclear if Aiyuk could land such an agreement from another club over the next few days. 

Somewhat interestingly, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk hinted on Tuesday that some around the NFL may wonder if Aiyuk can thrive away from San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan and an offense that includes stars such as receiver Deebo Samuel, tight end George Kittle and running back Christian McCaffrey. Such questions may limit how much a different team is willing to pay Aiyuk if he truly is a tradeable piece. 

Florio recently reported that at least the Pittsburgh Steelers were told earlier this spring that the 49ers aren't trading Aiyuk anytime soon. However, Silver said on Tuesday that fans shouldn't "expect" San Francisco to shop either Samuel or Kittle this week so the club can pay Aiyuk. That reality has apparently made Aiyuk available to other clubs "for the right price." 

Silver indicated that 49ers general manager John Lynch was telling the truth when Lynch said Monday he wants to keep Aiyuk via a long-term deal. Lynch nevertheless seems more than a little open to making a trade that could allow him to replace Aiyuk with a rookie this Thursday or Friday.