Brandon Aiyuk's Agent Refutes Report That WR Wants Trade From 49ers

Published|Updated

A reporter named John Frascella reported Sunday morning that San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk requested a trade from the team.

Frascella added that the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens have made calls to the 49ers to try and acquire the star receiver. 

That report was posted at 8:45 a.m. EST and less than four hours later Brandon Aiyuk's agent, Ryan Williams, replied to Frascella's post and said, "You need better sources." 

That seems like a clear refutation of Frascella's report, but the response is vague in terms of which part of the report Williams says is poorly sourced. 

Did Aiyuk not request a trade? Have the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens not called the 49ers to ask about Aiyuk? 

Since Williams is Aiyuk's agent, the most likely is that he is saying his client did not request a trade from the team. 

The 49ers drafted Aiyuk in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. That means he received the standard first-round pick rookie contract, which includes four guaranteed years and a fifth-year team option. 

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) during Super Bowl LVIII Opening Night at Allegiant Stadium.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk speaks to the media during Super Bowl LVIII Opening Night at Allegiant Stadium.

(Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports)

Thanks to Aiyuk's play, the 49ers exercised that fifth-year option, which includes this upcoming season. However, the team can offer Aiyuk a long-term contract extension, which is obviously what Aiyuk wants. 

The question is whether the 49ers want to sign Aiyuk to a long-term, big-money extension. They haven't so far, and the receiver appears to have unfollowed the team's social media accounts, according to Fox News. 

The problem for San Francisco is that it already has big money tied up in its other three offensive stars: Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and George Kittle. Can the 49ers afford to commit the money Aiyuk wants? 

Probably not, so Aiyuk wanting to find a team willing to pay him – and there surely would be suitors – seems reasonable. But, as of now, his agent claims that he's focused on trying to remain with the 49ers. 

We'll have to wait and see how the whole thing plays out. 

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Dan began his sports media career at ESPN, where he survived for nearly a decade. Once the Stockholm Syndrome cleared, he made his way to OutKick. He is secure enough in his masculinity to admit he is a cat-enthusiast with three cats, one of which is named "Brady" because his wife wishes she were married to Tom instead of him.