“Brandon Aiyuk is that dude for you. You’re not even to the Super Bowl without him!” Just days ago, the retired receiver and SB XLV champ James Jones sang Aiyuk’s praises while throwing some shade at his San Francisco 49ers teammate. “Deebo Samuel is not this dude,” he quipped. When the squad has two receivers worthy of being the WR1, it’s basically a game of musical chairs. But this NFL analyst has a game plan that can save Kyle Shanahan from the head-scratching.

Writing for the Pro Football Talk column in NBC Sports, Mike Florio titled his piece: “Should 49ers trade Deebo Samuel, pay Brandon Aiyuk?” If you belong to the Faithful, then you might be losing your head just like you must have done when your team lost SB LVIII just by three points to the Chiefs. But hold on, take a deep breath, Florio might be onto something here.

In his defense? Check out the table below, comparing the star receivers’ stats from 2023. The numbers speak for themselves!

Deebo was catching passes like a pro in 2023, but Aiyuk was the real yardage wizard. With 17.9 yards per reception (YPC), he was serving up big plays like hotcakes, finishing second in the league. But what went awry, from leading the 49ers to the Super Bowl to now seeking greener pastures elsewhere?

The Niners’ jersey number 11 has been making runs, but not for the end zone—he’s headed for the exit. Amidst all the drama, he’s issued a formal trade request. Why?

His demands are clear: he wants WR1 money. 75 catches for 1,342 yards last season, plus a great Super Bowl showing, make a great case for Aiyuk, as he is not ready to accept the 49ers’ offer of $26 million per year.

Let’s put things into perspective. Devonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle, both number two receivers, are cashing checks for over $28 million annually. Amon-Ra St. Brown has just turned over his 1500+ yards season to $30 million a year. It’s no wonder Aiyuk is feeling how he is. Especially when he looks over at Deebo, who, after demanding a trade and acting like he’d never play for the 49ers again, signed a three-year, $71.55 million extension back in 2022. His salary for 2024? is a whopping $20.972 million.

They cannot pay Aiyuk what he’s worth because then the team’s financial game plan could blow up faster than blown coverage on 4th and long. If they play hardball, they are sending their Super Bowl dreams spiraling like a last-second Hail Mary landing out of bounds.

Enter Florio’s analysis. Trading Samuel would trigger a cap charge of $6.65 million this year and $15.143 million next year, according to the analyst. He doubled down, saying the Niners could trade Deebo, pay Aiyuk what he’s worth, and hope others, like rookie Ricky Pearsall, step up and become the next man up. While the clock’s ticking faster in San Francisco with Aiyuk’s request lying in the office, another report has surfaced.

The Patriots were almost ready to give Brandon Aiyuk what he wanted!

Brandon Aiyuk was the wide receiver to watch before the NFL Draft. Fresh off an amazing Super Bowl performance worthy of that recognition (nine receptions, 149 yards, and a touchdown), rumors swirled that San Francisco was ready to trade their star receiver. However, 49ers GM John Lynch was quick to shut the mill down. Aiyuk wasn’t going anywhere! But was he not?

The New England Patriots were itching for a trade, per Mike Florio. He reported that the Patriots were one of five teams with eyes on Aiyuk. The Pats were ready with their hats on as they placed a second-round pick on the table, only for the Niners to firmly reject their offer.

They weren’t just throwing Hail Marys, though. Pats were prepared to meet Aiyuk’s demands as well. And what he wanted was a payday—$28 million per year. The offer over which all the fuss is about has also seen the receiver vocally dissatisfied with it throughout the offseason. He’s been dropping cryptic messages. He even posted a TikTok video telling a former teammate the 49ers “don’t want me back.”

Right now, the noisiest place in California might be Santa Clara, with all the developments on the Aiyuk story. But Florio’s suggestion of a trade for Deebo Samuel is just asking for an increase in decibels. What do you think the Niners should do? Let us know.