49ers Holding Out Hope for Brandon Aiyuk Trade Despite Slim Chances

The 49ers have not released or traded the wide receiver, but an NFL executive says no team will give up anything significant for him.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 7:06pm by Ben Kaplan

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The San Francisco 49ers are holding out hope that they can trade wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk this offseason, despite an unnamed NFL executive saying no team would give up anything of value for him. Aiyuk missed the entire 2025 season due to an ACL injury and had a falling out with the team, leading to an expected split. However, the 49ers have not released or traded Aiyuk yet, hoping a trade will materialize, though the chances of that are seen as incredibly slim.

Why it matters

The 49ers' reluctance to part ways with Aiyuk suggests they still see potential value in the wide receiver, but the reality is that his injury history and falling out with the team have severely diminished his trade market. This situation highlights the challenges teams face when dealing with underperforming or troubled players, as they must balance the desire to recoup value with the need to move on.

The details

According to reports, the 49ers have not released or traded Aiyuk despite the expectation that he will not be on the team's roster next season. The team is reportedly holding out hope that a trade will materialize, but an unnamed NFL executive says no team would give up anything significant for Aiyuk given his missed 2025 season and the questions surrounding his future. Aiyuk, a 28-year-old wide receiver, had a falling out with the 49ers after not showing up to recover from his 2024 ACL injury as the team had wished.

  • The 2026 NFL offseason has now entered its third week, and the 49ers have not yet released or traded Aiyuk.

The players

Brandon Aiyuk

A 28-year-old wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers who missed the entire 2025 season due to an ACL injury and had a falling out with the team.

San Francisco 49ers

The NFL team that currently employs Brandon Aiyuk and is reportedly holding out hope for a trade despite slim chances of that happening.

Unnamed NFL Executive

An executive from an unspecified NFL team that is in need of a wide receiver this offseason, who believes the 49ers will not get anything significant in a trade for Aiyuk.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“They're not getting anything significant for him in a trade. I wouldn't give anything for him, and everyone knows we need a receiver.”

— Unnamed NFL Executive

What’s next

The 49ers will likely have to release Aiyuk this offseason, as the chances of them finding a trade partner willing to give up anything of value for him appear extremely slim.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the challenges teams face when dealing with underperforming or troubled players, as they must balance the desire to recoup value with the need to move on. The 49ers' reluctance to part ways with Aiyuk suggests they still see potential in him, but the reality is that his injury history and falling out with the team have severely diminished his trade value.