4 best Brandon Aiyuk landing spots feat. Los Angeles Chargers

Brandon Aiyuk will be a free agent next year, and so far the San Francisco 49ers haven't come close to agreeing on a contract extension with the player. As per the San Francisco Chronicle's Mike Silver, the 49ers' latest offer for the wide receiver was around $26 million (Annual Average Value), which is much less than the reported $30 million mark that Aiyuk is seeking.

There is a high possibility that the 49ers could trade the 26-year-old player if they can't agree on terms for an extension with Aiyuk before training camp.

As of July 16, 2024, per NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, Aiyuk has officially requested a trade away from the franchise. While there was talk of Aiyuk and the Niners meeting midway with one eye on a Super Bowl run this year, the Arizona State alum earlier said he was irritated over how negotiations played out with San Fran.

Multiple teams will be interested in acquiring the talented wide receiver from the 49ers and offering him a lucrative extension. Here, we list four teams that could make a run at Aiyuk and offer him a deal to his liking.

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Brandon Aiyuk landing spots:

Brandon Aiyuk: San Francisco 49ers vs Atlanta Falcons

#1. New England Patriots:

The New England Patriots are currently rebuilding, and they would love to have a bona fide star wide receiver like Brandon Aiyuk. According to Spotrac, the AFC East franchise will have close to $116 million in cap space next year and can easily afford to offer a $30 million+ annual value contract to Aiyuk.

The Patriots drafted Drake Maye with the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and although the rookie will not start straightaway, having a veteran receiver like Aiyuk will be helpful in his growth.

The six-time Super Bowl champions can make a statement by acquiring Aiyuk from the 49ers and kickstarting the post-Bill Belichick era with a flashy move that would not have happened under the previous regime.

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#2. Pittsburgh Steelers

Back in March, there were strong rumors that Brandon Aiyuk was interested in a move to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Although no progress has been made since then, a door for a move to the AFC North franchise remains open for the Arizona State product.

The Steelers will have $89 million in cap space next year and can also offer a favorable deal to Aiyuk. The 49ers star can be a valuable complementary piece alongside George Pickens. Since the Steelers have improved their quarterback room, this move makes a lot of sense for the Steelers to become a Super Bowl contender.

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#3. Los Angeles Chargers

The Los Angeles Chargers are arguably the best possible fit for Brandon Aiyuk. He will get to play alongside a superstar quarterback like Justin Herbert, and head coach Jim Harbaugh will be able to bring the best out of him.

The Chargers recently drafted Ladd McConkey and Brenden Rice, but they are projected to have $54.7 million in cap space next year. They can afford to pay Aiyuk, and the 49ers receiver will relieve the pressure on the entire offense.

A three-year deal for Aiyuk will benefit the Chargers, as their young core of receivers will learn from a proven veteran, while Herbert will also not go through the pains of losing Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.

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#4. New York Giants

The Arizona Cardinals will have $98 million in cap space next year, and since they have a fairly young offense around Kyler Murray, they could look to get Aiyuk from their division rivals. The one-two punch of Aiyuk and Marvin Harrison Jr. will be difficult to deal with for any team's defense, and since the Cardinals have a lot of money available to pay players, they could try to get the 26-year-old wideout.

The Cardinals haven't had any success in the past two years due to Kyler Murray's injury, and they should capitalize on their quarterback's health to make a push in a considerably weak conference.

Aiyuk is coming off a season in which he had 75 catches for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns in 16 games. Not many teams can afford to offer a big deal to him, but the four teams listed above can and should make a run at him.

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