Heading into the 2026 offseason, the San Francisco 49ers have a few very interesting storylines to follow.
Will the 49ers trade Mac Jones? Who will the 49ers add at wide receiver and pass rusher? And the most interesting one, what happens with Brandon Aiyuk?
The disgruntled wide receiver didn't play all season due to a contract dispute and is likely on his way out. His future seems so set that ESPN's Bill Barnwell noted it would be "truly shocking" if Aiyuk weren't on a new team next season.
49ers not moving on from Brandon Aiyuk would be 'truly shocking'
"And it would be truly shocking if Aiyuk wasn't on the move this offseason," Barnwell writes, "as his relationship with a 49ers team that seemed hesitant to give the 2020 first-round pick a contract extension in the first place has quickly gone south."
Aiyuk is almost guaranteed to be on a new team next season. After a fall-out with the 49ers following his torn ACL in 2024 and odd behavior in 2025, the 49ers are fully expected to move on from their former first-round pick.
He waived his contract for the 2026 season and is almost a lock to be cut this offseason. Most teams likely won't want to trade for him after how this past season went.
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While he still has some intrigue, thanks to his 1,342 receiving yard season in 2023, the missed 2025 season and torn ACL in 2024, combined with a lackluster season with 374 yards and no touchdowns through seven games before the injury, is giving pause to teams.
But regardless of what exactly happens and how things unfold, Barnwell believes it would be "truly shocking" if Aiyuk weren't on a new team in 2026.
Whether it's a trade or a cut, the 49ers are near locks to move on from Aiyuk this offseason. They have a big wide receiver need, and even with that, moving on from Aiyuk is a near certainty this offseason for Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch.
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