The NFL Draft is like a high-stakes poker game, and Kyle Shanahan has never been one to fold early. Picture the 49ers’ war room. Whiteboards cluttered with names, coffee cups half-empty, and the faint hum of George Kittle’s pregame hype playlist echoing down the hall. Since taking the reins in 2017, Shanahan has built a reputation as a play-calling savant. But this year’s draft feels different.

San Francisco holds the No. 11 pick—a slot that’s sparked more speculation than a Midwest weather forecast. Rumor has it, the 49ers’ chessboard has two moves: a bold draft pick and a risky trade that could redefine their offense. Whispers out of Santa Clara suggest Shanahan is eyeing a player who could slot into his system like a greasy slider at a Fourth of July BBQ. Meanwhile, a lingering question hangs over Levi’s Stadium…

What happens when a star’s contract clashes with a gruesome injury? The 49ers’ offseason strategy feels like a blend of Moneyball analytics and a Hail Mary pass—equal parts calculated and chaotic. Let’s just say nobody’s betting the farm on status quo. And there you have Iowa State’s Jayden Higgins.

A 6’4”, 214-pound receiver with the wingspan of a pterodactyl and hands stickier than a Cinnabon roll. Higgins, who racked up 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns in 2024, has reportedly caught the eye of quarterback Brock Purdy. “Purdy calls Higgins a big-time playmaker,” per NFL Rumors, fueling speculation that the 49ers could snag Higgins on Day 2. With a 4.47 40-yard dash and a 39-inch vertical, Higgins fits Shanahan’s mold of versatile weapons who thrive in space.

Scouts praise Higgins’ route IQ and contested-catch prowess. Some comparing him to a poor man’s Larry Fitzgerald. However, concerns linger about his release against press coverage and limited YAC ability. Besides, he’s not a burner, but he’s got that it factor in tight windows. For a 49ers team that led the NFL in yards after catch (YAC) in 2023, Higgins’ size could be a good fit. But here’s the thing. Brandon Aiyuk’s $120 million contract is bleeding cap space. And his recovery from a torn ACL/MCL remains a question mark.

Shanahan’s Aiyuk conundrum: to trade or not to trade?

“I don’t know… it’s too early to tell,” Kyle Shanahan admitted earlier this month when asked whether Aiyuk will be available by Week 1. Besides, Shanahan’s hedging like a meteorologist predicting a thunderstorm. “I mean, the goal is always early. You hope to have it right away, but we’re told that by his doctor and everything, there’s a chance, but it’s too early in the process.” Trading Aiyuk now—even for a late-round pick—could free up $14 million and signal a youth movement.

However, moving Aiyuk feels like selling a vintage Mustang with a busted transmission. His 2023 All-Pro season (1,342 yards, 7 TDs) proves his ceiling, but his injury history and strained relationship with the front office muddy the waters. Besides, it’s a sunk-cost fallacy. You don’t keep driving a lemon just because you overpaid for it.

Kyle Shanahan’s legacy hinges on these next two weeks. Drafting Higgins offers a cost-controlled weapon for Purdy’s prime, while trading Aiyuk could salvage financial flexibility. But in a league where today’s genius is tomorrow’s gag reel, every move is a roll of the dice.

As the late Al Davis once barked, “The fire that melts butter forges steel.” Will Shanahan’s gambit forge a contender—or leave the 49ers stuck in the NFC’s middle pack? And hey, 49ers faithful: Would you trade Aiyuk for a bag of footballs and a six-pack of IPAs? The clock’s ticking.