Trade Brandon Aiyuk? John Lynch says WR is big part of 49ers 2023 plans

Publish date: 2024-05-27

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — John Lynch spent Monday’s pre-draft news conference downplaying Trey Lance trade talk and said the 49ers have big plans for another player whose name has popped up in trade discussions, receiver Brandon Aiyuk.

“We’re trying to do something special this year and Brandon’s gonna be a big part of that,” Lynch said.  “We feel like he made another big step last year and I think the best is yet to come. So we want him to be a part of it.”

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Teams are interested in Aiyuk for several reasons: 1. He’s young, 25, and his 1,015 receiving yards last season were a career best. 2. He only has one year — for now, at least — remaining on his contract. 3. The 49ers already doled out a big contract for another receiver, Deebo Samuel.

Three years ago, the 49ers had a pair of defensive tackles, Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner, and decided they could afford to retain only one. They traded Buckner to the Colts and used the first-round pick they got as compensation on his replacement, Javon Kinlaw. Teams may be wondering if there’s a similar deal to be had at receiver.

The current situation, however, is a bit different. The 49ers have Aiyuk under contract this year at $4 million and can retain him for 2024 if they pick up his fifth-year option. The deadline for doing so is May 1. Lynch said he didn’t want to divulge the decision on that matter because he needed to sit down with Aiyuk and another player eligible for the fifth-round option, Kinlaw, before making that public.

The 49ers also don’t have an abundance of wide receivers after Aiyuk and Samuel and don’t have anyone who could duplicate Aiyuk’s numbers. Jauan Jennings and Ray-Ray McCloud III aren’t signed beyond this season while every other receiver, including second-year players Danny Gray and Tay Martin, are unproven. Gray was Aiyuk’s understudy last year and finished with one catch on seven targets.

“At some point, yeah, you have to figure things out,” Lynch said of fitting everyone under the salary cap. “And I guess we’ll take that as it comes. But as of right now and into the future we’re really excited about Brandon Aiyuk and where he’s at.”

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Lynch, meanwhile, characterized talk of trading Lance as “a lot of smoke” and said the calls he’s fielded weren’t initiated by the 49ers. He said that if the 49ers are having real trade discussions about a player he’ll sit down and have a discussion with that player. He said he’s had a conversation with Lance, but only because of his high-profile position and the type of media traction the Lance trade talk has received.

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Lynch acknowledged there have been some calls.

“But it hasn’t been that substantive,” he said. “And like I said, we’re focused, as is Trey, on his ability to compete and play an integral role on this team. Last year we needed five (quarterbacks) and so we value every single one of those guys.”

“Trey and I have talked,” he continued. “And we’re on the same page. Trey knows exactly what the situation is. And his mindset is all about competing. And I think that’s exactly where his mindset should be. We’re excited about the position he’s put himself in and the work he’s done this offseason.”

John Lynch downplayed any Trey Lance trade talk at his pre-draft news conference. (Mike Dinovo / USA Today)

At one point during his 25-minute news conference Lynch noted that the 49ers “seem to be linked to everything.”

They’ve been connected to disgruntled Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. Lynch said the 49ers’ salary-cap structure, one that revolves around having inexpensive quarterbacks, wouldn’t work with a high-priced player like Jackson. They’ve been linked to Aaron Rodgers, a rumor that got shot down a few minutes after Lynch left the podium when Rodgers’ trade to the Jets went through.

One rumor that probably won’t take flight — a trade of Nick Bosa.

He’s currently working out in South Florida like he does every offseason and the 49ers aren’t close on a long-term contract for the defending NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Lynch, however, reiterated that the 49ers have a good track record when it comes to taking care of their best players and said that will be the case with Bosa as well.

So don’t bother calling.

“That hotline is closed,” he said. “That never opened.”

Odds & ends

• The 49ers are unlikely to pick up the fifth-year option for Kinlaw, who has been limited to 10 games over the last two seasons due to knee issues. Lynch, however, continues to emphasize the shape Kinlaw is in this offseason.

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“He’s really in a good spot. He looks tremendous,” he said. “He’s worked really hard to be here. And we’re all really encouraged by it and excited to see what’s to come.”

• Lynch said former 49ers running back Frank Gore sat in on several of the team’s pre-draft meetings. Gore has said he wants to work as a talent evaluator and team CEO Jed York is on record as saying he’d love to bring Gore aboard.

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“He didn’t say much, but sat back and took a lot of mental notes,” Lynch said of Gore. “It was cool to share the process with him.”

Gore was on hand for the team’s local pro day earlier this month. Afterward, he chatted with reporters and talked up one of the 49ers’ recent free-agent acquisitions, Sam Darnold, who was a teammate of Gore’s with the Jets in 2020.

• Lynch noted that the 49ers have traded around during the draft every year he’s been general manager except for last year.

“That wasn’t for lack of trying,” he said. “We tried to move around. Nothing came to fruition.”

There’s a good chance the team will move around this year, too, though Lynch noted that the 49ers’ late initial pick, No. 99, as well as their 11 total picks mesh well with a draft class that is light on top-end talent but deep overall.

“There’s a lot of good football players and a lot that we like,” he said. “And so that excites me.”

(Top photo of Brandon Aiyuk: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images)

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