Dawgs By Nature
Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk with the San Francisco 49ers. Where do you start? Leading up to April’s NFL draft, San Fran GM John Lynch stated that Aiyuk was not going to be traded. The team voided the $27 million in guaranteed money in his contract. Aiyuk has been rehabbing from a torn ACL that he suffered last season.
Aiyuk had a warrant issued by the District Attorney’s office for a misdemeanor charge of exhibition of speeding. From that point on, after destroying his knee, Aiyuk went AWOL from the franchise and is currently on the reserve/left squad list. Then, the cryptic social media messages Aiyuk posted stated the Niners front office was “mad because they are stupid.”
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Now, there are reports that the 49ers are ready to release Aiyuk and start a new chapter that doesn’t include him.
Should the Browns reach out?
It is no secret that last season, Cleveland had one of the worst receiver groups in the league, ranking #31. But a lot has transpired since the end of the 2025 NFL season.
Jerry Jeudy is still on the roster. In April’s college draft, GM Andrew Berry selected KC Concepcion out of Texas A&M in the bottom of the first round. With the very next pick, Berry took Washington receiver Denzel Boston. Veteran Tylan Wallace was signed in free agency, although he is more of a return man. Isaiah Bond is scheduled to grow his development and take control of the slot receiver spot.
It remains uncertain where Cedric Tillman’s role will be, if at all, and there are still capable backups such as Malachi Corley and Jamari Thrash to consider.
One might ask: where exactly would Aiyuk fit?
Aiyuk (6’-0”, 200 pounds) was drafted by the 49ers after a very good Senior Bowl week in 2020 and was the 25th overall pick. As a rookie, he became the first receiver since the merger year of 1970 to score two rushing touchdowns in his first three NFL games.
He has played in 69 NFL games with 67 starts. His stats: 446 targets, 294 receptions for 4,305 yards, 209 first down conversions, 25 touchdowns, 14.6 yards per catch average, 1,493 YAC, and 22 drops. He has also rushed 13 times for 117 yards and scored twice.
His best season was in 2023 when he had 75 catches for 1,342 yards with seven TDs. He was voted Second Team All-Pro that year.
Aiyuk has never had breakaway speed and has issues getting separation. He is a good route runner with excellent YAC numbers. He is considered dynamic with a massive catch radius. Aiyuk a tremendous wingspan of 80” with shiftiness and good vision.
After his breakout year, the 49ers then inked him to a four-year $120 million extension at the end of 2024 training camp. But in Week 7, he tore his MCL and ACL against the Kansas City Chiefs, which required surgery and landed him on IR. At the...
