Report: 49ers consider trading Samuel or Aiyuk to move into Top 10 of 2024 NFL Draft

Apr 25, 2024, 3:10 PM | Updated: 3:22 pm

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 03: Deebo Samuel #19 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after a touchdown with Brandon Aiyuk #11 during the third quarter in the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 03, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

BY AMILIANO FRAGOSO

San Francisco 49ers Beat Writer

It wouldn’t be draft season if there wasn’t a spicy rumor only hours before, and this one involves the 49ers in a big way.

Reports emerged Thursday afternoon that the San Francisco 49ers have had conversations about moving wide receiver Deebo Samuel or Brandon Aiyuk in an attempt to reach the top 10 of the NFL Draft. The deal would likely include their one first-round pick as well (No. 31), in order to get inside the top 10 Thursday night.

The Athletic’s Diana Russini reported the news Thursday, with other journalists elaborating further.

49ers have had conversations “about trading either” Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel to move up in the first round, per @DMRussini pic.twitter.com/5cpxSlAtLY

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 25, 2024

The 49ers have had trade rumors swirling around their wideouts since the start of the 2024 offseason.

Brandon Aiyuk, 26, is in the midst of a contract dispute with the team, unfollowing them on social media earlier this month. Aiyuk has also not shown up to the team’s voluntary offseason program, holding out until a new deal is squared away.

Those numbers seem to be going up with time, as fellow WRs Devonta Smith and Amon-Ra St. Brown secured massive contract extensions in recent weeks. Aiyuk has seen that as an opportunity to rest the positional market, looking to secure more than $25 million annually on a long-term deal.

The Rocklin native expressed his pleasure with those deals in a video of his dancing this week:

BA seems excited after that Amon Ra contract was announced!! He knows he’s getting a BAG!!

Via Brandon Aiyuk’s IG pic.twitter.com/decAbkcuIn

— Marco Martinez (@marco_mart1205) April 24, 2024

In terms of the news Thursday, local media for the 49ers has been on top of this, with The SF Chronicle’s Mike Silver added more thoughts on current WR situation:

In the course of trade conversations about Brandon Aiyuk, numerous teams are inquiring about fellow 49ers WR Deebo Samuel’s availability. The 49ers would likely have to be blown away by the offer to make that move. Fluid situation though.

That notion was echoed by 49ers general manager John Lynch Monday, telling the media that an Aiyuk trade should not be anticipated by Friday. Additionally, Silver mentioned earlier in the week hat Samuel had ben told by his “bosses” that he would not be moved on draft night.

However, Lynch has shown that he’s willing to make the risky move, especially during draft season. The situation remains fluid at this time, and will remain that way until the end of Round 1.