The New York Jets are gearing up to defend against San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk in their upcoming Monday Night Football clash. However, Aiyuk’s name almost appeared on their scouting report twice this season, under different circumstances.
A new Sports Illustrated report reveals how close three teams came to acquiring Aiyuk, who missed the 49ers’ training camp and preseason while negotiating a new contract. He eventually secured a four-year, $120 million deal with $76 million in guarantees to stay with San Francisco.
But the 49ers nearly traded him. One of the suitors was the Jets’ AFC East rival, the New England Patriots. According to SI, the Patriots made two offers to Aiyuk’s camp—one for an average of $30 million over three years and another exceeding $32 million annually over four years. They were reportedly ready to part with a 2025 second-round pick, a 2026 third-round pick, and a player. The 49ers requested Kendrick Bourne, a former San Francisco player now recovering from an ACL injury, though it’s unclear if this derailed the deal.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns were also in the mix, with the Steelers coming closest to a trade.
In hindsight, the Jets may have dodged a bullet. Facing a receiver of Aiyuk’s caliber twice a year could have been a daunting prospect. Instead, they’ll only face him once every four years, with their next NFC matchup against the 49ers set for 2028.
Aiyuk has been a standout for the 49ers over the past two seasons, with 75 catches for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns last year, earning Second-Team All-Pro honors. In 2022, the former first-round pick tallied 78 receptions for 1,015 yards and eight touchdowns.
As the Jets prepare for the 49ers, they’ll also be monitoring the contract standoff involving San Francisco’s left tackle Trent Williams, who has skipped training camp and preseason. Meanwhile, the Jets face their own contract dilemma with edge rusher Haason Reddick, who is holding out and accruing over $2 million in fines. If Reddick continues his holdout through Monday night, the Jets could begin withholding game checks, costing him over $800,000 per game.
