There has been some interesting wide receiver drama this season, but none might be more fascinating than that with Brandon Aiyuk and the San Francisco 49ers.
San Francisco waived his contract guarantees and could ultimately cut him this offseason, with both sides in a fractured relationship.
ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler provided an interesting update on Aiyuk's future in San Francisco. While he reports this saga is "far from over," the main takeaway from Fowler's report is that Aiyuk, if the 49ers cut him, will have suitors in free agency.
49ers' Brandon Aiyuk reportedly will have suitors in free agency if cut
"Getting released and hitting free agency in March would be the cleanest path for him -- and he would have suitors," Fowler reports. "He's only 27 and had 1,342 yards in 2023."
Aiyuk is currently on a $120 million contract, and while it carries him through the 2028 season, the 49ers are likely to part ways after just one year, and potentially no games on his new contract.
He's likely to have interested teams, since a wide receiver with his skillset and prowess doesn't become available every day.
In 2024, before his brutal knee injury, which has kept him out for most of the 2024 and 2025 seasons, Aiyuk had 25 receptions for 374 yards and no touchdowns on 47 targets.
More: Kyle Shanahan reveals stance on Brandon Aiyuk's future with 49ers
But teams will likely overlook those numbers. Instead, he chose to focus on his 1,342 receiving yards and seven touchdowns on 75 receptions and 105 targets in 2023.
Back in 2202, Aiyuk had 1,015 yards and eight touchdowns and 78 receptions on 114 targets. Adding such a player would be a no-brainer for any team, but since he's going to be signed for 2026, Aiyuk would be at least three years removed from his best seasons.
However, as Fowler reports, Aiyuk will have suitors if he hits the open market this offseason. Plenty of teams need wide receiver help, and Aiyuk, potentially available for relatively cheap compared to his price tag a few years ago, could be a great option.
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