The San Francisco 49ers have been recently linked to a potential blockbuster trade for Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams. However, the likelihood of such a trade seems slim at the moment.
San Francisco Chronicle’s Mike Silver floated the idea of the 49ers trading WR Brandon Aiyuk to the Raiders in exchange for Adams, who is reportedly on the way out of Las Vegas.
But NBC Sports reporter Matt Maiocco has since downplayed the possibility. According to Maiocco, neither the Raiders seem inclined to trade Adams to the 49ers, nor would the 49ers be willing to pay the hefty cost of acquiring him.
“I don’t see any reason or possibility of the Raiders trading him to the 49ers,” Maiocco noted. “And the 49ers won’t part with Aiyuk after just four games. The trade would also be a significant hit to the 49ers’ salary cap.”
Though Adams has been one of the NFL’s top receivers for a decade, he will turn 32 later this year. Aiyuk, despite a slow start to the 2024 season, is still young and has the potential for a strong comeback, making the trade impractical.
Aiyuk’s Struggles After Big Contract Aiyuk’s contract extension saga was a major talking point during the offseason, as he missed most of preseason due to a holdout. In the end, the 49ers rewarded him with a four-year, $120 million deal. However, his performance so far in 2024 has been underwhelming.
In four games, Aiyuk has recorded 13 catches for 167 yards and zero touchdowns. He’s also had two drops, equaling his drop total from all of last season. Despite these struggles, Aiyuk showcased his talent with a 10-yard catch against the New England Patriots in Week 4, which could signal a turnaround.
49ers HC Kyle Shanahan Backs Aiyuk Despite Aiyuk’s slow start, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan remains supportive. Ahead of Week 4 against New England, Shanahan defended his wideout’s ability to get open, pointing to recent matchups against zone coverage, which limits opportunities for separation.
Shanahan also addressed a minor incident where Aiyuk wore the wrong practice shorts, brushing it off as inconsequential. He emphasized that such things happen, showing continued confidence in Aiyuk’s potential.
