Brandon Aiyuk facing 'uphill battle' to get traded from San Francisco 49ers

Brandon Aiyuk might not be going anywhere anytime soon. The San Francisco 49ers wide receiver officially requested a trade this week but is facing an “uphill battle,” per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

Aiyuk, who’s emerged as one of the better receivers in the NFL, wants what he’s worth. According to Fowler, that’s around the $30 million a year mark set by other big named pass catchers this offseason.

If he doesn’t get that, he wants out. But Aiyuk might be stuck between a rock and a hard place.

“Well, from what I’m hearing, he’s gonna have an uphill battle to get traded because the 49ers are just not showing a willingness to want to do that,” Fowler said on SportsCenter. “One source told me that either wants to be traded or paid, the 49ers have shown a willingness to do neither. Now they want to pay him, the context is market value. They don’t want to get up to that $30 million range that he feels he’s earned. He’s a top 10 receiver now. Amon-Ra St. Brown in Detroit got a deal for around $30 million per year. So that’s just where the market has headed for these guys who put up 1,300, 1,400 yards a year. 

“So San Francisco has got trade calls dating back to the draft. Teams that have been trying to put together a package of picks and draft picks to give to San Francisco. There’s certainly interest but as of now, the path of least resistance seems like they could try to sort out a deal maybe in the next four to five weeks. Has been tense though, make no mistake about it, not looking good right now.”

As a former first-round pick, Aiyuk had a fifth-year option on his rookie deal, which the 49ers opted to exercise instead of working out a long-term deal last year. Now, he’s slated to play for $14.124 million this season, well below market value.

Over the course of four years, Aiyuk has 269 catches, 3,931 yards, 25 touchdowns and 14.6 yards per catch. He set a career-high 1,342 yards last season, helping the 49ers reach the Super Bowl.

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan had little to say regarding the star’s absence this offseason. The coach told reporters he looks forward to “focusing on football.”

“(I feel the) same as I do about all these guys that aren’t here. I mean, I wish they were here, but it’s something that’s part of the business,” Shanahan said. “Anytime it’s the business part, you try to respect it, stay out of it as much as possible. I look forward to the days when we just focus on football.”