ESPN insider reveals why 49ers must cut 4,305-yard WR if there’s no trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The San Francisco 49ers are coming out of the bulk of the NFL offseason with a few new faces on both sides of the ball, with the Mike Evans addition being the most noteworthy.
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He’s a fun wide receiver, and along with Christian Kirk and De’Zhuan Stribling, the 49ers have reshaped their wide receiver room in one offseason. But one receiver, who has 4,305 yards in his career, is likely on his way out.
As ESPN insider Dan Graziano revealed, the 49ers are going to have to cut this receiver, Brandon Aiyuk, if a trade doesn’t happen, as the two sides’ relationship is completely “broken.”
49ers must cut Brandon Aiyuk if there’s no trade
“His relationship with the 49ers is apparently broken, making him likely to be on another team by the start of the season,” Graziano writes. “The Niners have resisted cutting him, but if they can’t find a trade partner, they have to make him a free agent before the season starts.”
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With the 49ers’ relationship with Aiyuk so strained, it should come as no surprise that the two sides are heading for a split this offseason.
But, unlike how the Philadelphia Eagles and A.J. Brown, despite their own strained relationship, are going to find a trade, the 49ers might not find one with Aiyuk.
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The Washington Commanders are the logical destination for a trade, but even they, with Jayden Daniels, who is friends with Aiyuk, might not want to swing a trade for the disgruntled receiver.
Instead, teams might be more than willing to risk missing out on Aiyuk by letting him reach free agency and signing him to a veteran minimum contract there. It’s cheaper and more sensible for teams not to trade for Aiyuk.
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Aiyuk and the 49ers are heading for a split this offseason, and unfortunately, if a trade (which is unlikely) can’t be agreed upon, the 49ers are going to have to release Aiyuk, receiving nothing in return.
