The San Francisco 49ers’ wide receiver room is drawing a lot of attention entering the 2025 campaign. After trading Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders early in the offseason, the Niners made it clear they were committing to Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, and Ricky Pearsall as their top wide receiver trio entering the new season.
And yet, all three guys have dealt with various injuries to start training camp. Aiyuk is working his way back from a torn ACL and MCL he suffered in 2024, and he is expected to miss the first few weeks of the 2025 campaign. Once he returns, though, one team insider thinks he could face quite a bit of pressure to perform for the Niners.
Why the 2025 Season is So Important for Brandon Aiyuk
San Francisco used the No. 25 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft on Aiyuk, with the hopes he could become their No. 1 wide receiver on offense. He gradually earned a bigger role with each passing season until he fully broke out in 2023, racking up 75 receptions for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns, earning a spot on the All-Pro Second Team.
As he prepared to enter the final year of his rookie contract, Aiyuk made it clear he wanted a new contract from the 49ers. After an offseason full of tense negotiations, Aiyuk signed a four-year, $120 million extension, only to struggle mightily before suffering his aforementioned season-ending injury. In seven games, Aiyuk caught just 25 passes for 374 yards and no touchdowns, which is not exactly what the team was looking for from him.
The Niners are playing it safe when it comes to Aiyuk’s injury rehab, but the sooner he can get back on the field, the better. Even with his aforementioned contract extension, though, Aiyuk’s name has been involved in trade rumors for the better part of the past two years, and if he struggles when he returns to action in 2025, one insider believes his time with San Fran could come to an end.
“Aiyuk is expected to return from his knee injury at some point this season, and his future in San Francisco will likely be determined by how it goes from there,” Nick Wagoner of ESPN wrote. “The Niners would have to eat significant money with little return to part ways with him during or after this season, but if he can’t return to health and productivity, they might decide it’s time to move on and reallocate resources.”
What Should the 49ers Do with Brandon Aiyuk?
If Aiyuk struggles when he takes the field in 2025, the 49ers could find themselves in a tough spot. On one hand, they committed a ton of money to him with the belief that he would be their No. 1 wide receiver, so getting out of that sort of deal could prove costly. But if he isn’t producing, that’s a small price to pay for the team not to have to worry about his contract or injury status moving forward.
For now, San Francisco is simply going to wait and see what Aiyuk can do in 2025. If he returns and looks like his old self, that would be great, because it would cross another item off the 49ers’ to-do list. If he can’t find his old form, though, the Niners may be forced to move on from Aiyuk, even if they have to eat a large chunk of his deal.
