49ers Open to Trading Aiyuk, No Release Plans

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch stated on Saturday that the team remains open to trading wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk but has no immediate plans to release him, as the club's offseason program begins amid ongoing uncertainty over the player's future.

Aiyuk, a 2020 first-round draft pick, has not communicated with the 49ers or other teams in recent months, complicating potential deals. League sources indicate the 28-year-old receiver stopped attending team facilities last fall during his rehabilitation from a multiligament knee injury sustained in Week 7 of the 2024 season. The injury sidelined him for the entire 2025 campaign. In December, the 49ers placed him on the reserve/left squad list after he ceased responding to calls, including from head coach Kyle Shanahan, who described the situation as unprecedented in his 22 years of coaching.

The standoff stems from a turbulent history. Aiyuk held out through much of the 2024 offseason and training camp amid contract negotiations before signing a four-year, $120 million extension just before the regular season. The 49ers voided guarantees on the remaining three years and $85 million of the deal following his absence....