(Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)
An enticing blockbuster trade proposal has the San Francisco 49ers dealing star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk to a young AFC team.

The 2020 first-round pick is entering the final season of his rookie contract and is eligible for an extension. With seemingly little progress made on contract talks up to this point, Brandon Aiyuk continues to be mentioned aplenty in trade rumors.

Cory Woodroof of USA Today’s For The Win recently proposed an intriguing trade idea that has the Tennessee Titans landing Brandon Aiyuk from San Francisco in exchange for fellow wideout DeAndre Hopkins, a 2024 fourth-round pick and a conditional 2025 second-round selection:

“The Titans could really use a strong top receiver to grow with quarterback Will Levis in the years to come, and perhaps Tennessee could interest the 49ers in a veteran receiver in DeAndre Hopkins on an adjusted contract to pair with Deebo Samuel for 2024? If the 49ers process it as a post-June 1 trade, they could save a good bit of cap and amend Hopkins’ contract for a lower hit.”

Woodroof made this proposal before the Titans signed ex-Jacksonville Jaguars wideout Calvin Ridley to a mammoth $92 million deal in free agency. Still, the proposal to land Aiyuk still makes plenty of sense if he’s available via trade.

Will Levis enters next season as the undisputed starting quarterback in Tennessee. With Ridley, Hopkins, 2022 first-rounder Treylon Burks and running back Tony Pollard in the fold, Levis is in a good position to break out as a sophomore.

But Hopkins will be 32 next season and has just one year remaining on his deal, whereas Brandon Aiyuk just turned 26 and is entering his prime years. Pairing Levis’ big arm with the speedy Ridley-Aiyuk tandem would immediately turn this Tennessee passing game into a juggernaut.

The trade proposal also works for the 49ers, who get another 1,000-yard receiver and two extra picks as opposed to having to pay Brandon Aiyuk a lucrative deal that will surely cost more than $20 million annually.

Brandon Aiyuk Is Coming Off A Career Year

Aiyuk caught 75 passes in 2023 for a career-high 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns despite missing one game. This marked his second straight 70-catch, 1,000-yard season, cementing Aiyuk as the 49ers’ top wide receiver.

The bottom line is that Aiyuk is about to be paid handsomely. The only question is if he’ll remain in San Fran, or if they’ll end up trading him.

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