Four potential landing spots for 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk

Brandon Aiyuk has become one of the San Francisco 49ers' most important weapons over the past couple of years. A former first-round pick, he finished last season seventh in the NFL in receiving yards (1,342) as the No. 2 wide receiver on the 49ers' depth chart behind Deebo Samuel.

Heading into his fifth NFL season, however, Aiyuk could either be playing for San Francisco with no contract extension or for another team. He's an unrestricted free agent after this season.

Per The Athletic, San Francisco GM John Lynch wants to keep Aiyuk. 

"There are a number of different directions it can go,” Lynch told The Athletic. “But we appreciate the heck out of Brandon and who he is as a player. We want him to be a part of the Niners, so we’re going to work towards making that a reality.”

That sounds reassuring for most 49ers fans on the surface. However, defensive tackle DeForest Buckner was also looking for an extension from San Francisco following the 2019 season and the team traded him to Indianapolis.

So, even though Aiyuk is coming off a season in which he was named second-team All-Pro, his return to the Bay Area is far from guaranteed.

If the former Arizona State standout is made available by the Niners, a handful of teams should be in the mix for his services. 

Pittsburgh Steelers

After dealing WR Diontae Johnson to Carolina in the offseason, the Steelers need offensive help. Aiyuk would provide that lining up across from rising star WR George Pickens, who will be on the receiving end of passes from either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields in 2024.

Washington Commanders

The Commanders aren’t ready to win now, but a trade to the nation’s capital would provide Aiyuk the opportunity to grow with a young team. With the second overall pick in the NFL draft on April 25, Washington is expected to select a quarterback, probably LSU Jayden Daniels or North Carolina's Drake Maye. So, while a trade means Aiyuk will get his extension, landing in Washington means a lot less winning than he’s grown accustomed to with San Francisco.

Houston Texans

Houston, which finished 10-7 last season and won the AFC South, is interesting because it has a young stud leading the offense in reigning Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud and room to add to its arsenal. Inserting Aiyuk into an offense that already features WRs Nico Collins and Tank Dell and recently acquired RB Joe Mixon could make Houston an even bigger force to be reckoned with in 2024.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville took a step back in 2023, although it finished with the same record (9-8) in back-to-back seasons. But after winning a wild-card game (and the AFC South) in 2022, the Jags didn’t make the playoffs this past season. 

The Jaguars have a huge need at wide receiver after losing their No. 1 target, Calvin Ridley, to the rival Tennessee Titans in free agency. Aiyuk could be intrigued by the opportunity to play with a young QB like 24-year-old Trevor Lawrence, who has barely scratched the surface of his potential.