49ers GM John Lynch Provides Brandon Aiyuk Trade Update

The San Francisco 49ers and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk have been separated for months, so the official divorce will just be a formality.

49ers general manager John Lynch held his pre-draft press conference on Monday, and he was inevitably asked whether Aiyuk could finally be traded during the 2026 NFL Draft this weekend.

“I’ve had some discussions,” Lynch said. “Do I think it’s a high probability? Likely no. But is there a chance? Yeah, I think there’s a chance. As for that whole dialogue, I think I was candid with you guys in saying at the end of the season [in January] that he’s likely played his last snap for us. We all are in concert on where we’re going with Brandon.”

Lynch said the 49ers would “reevaluate” Aiyuk’s situation if he isn’t moved next weekend.

“He’s still a member of this roster right now, and we’ll treat him as such,” Lynch said.

Aiyuk has not played for the 49ers since tearing his ACL and MCL against the Kansas City Chiefs on Oct. 20, 2024. Fissures in his relationship with the 49ers first appeared when the 49ers voided guaranteed money in Aiyuk’s contract because Aiyuk reportedly failed to “show up for rehab appointments during the offseason,” per ESPN.

In August 2024, Ian Rapoport reported that San Francisco was preparing to trade Aiyuk to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the 49ers instead signed him to a four-year, $120 million extension.

As it turned out, Aiyuk would only be in a Niner uniform for seven more games after that, and now San Francisco is preparing to trade him again.

The 49ers drafted Aiyuk 25th overall in 2020. The Arizona State alum posted back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons in 2022 and 2023 before his devastating knee injury. Aiyuk’s best season came in 2023, catching 75 passes for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns.

San Francisco has already moved on, luring veteran star wide receiver Mike Evans from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in free agency.

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This story was originally published April 20, 2026 at 4:02 PM.