Disgruntled 49ers’ WR Brandon Aiyuk Comments on Ricky Pearsall Team’s Selection In 2024 NFL Draft
There was conjecture throughout the months preceding the draft that the 49ers may try to trade one or both of their wide outs who were selected to the Pro Bowl. San Francisco only has $6.2 million in salary cap room in 2024, compared to Samuel’s $28.6 million cap hit. Many believed that in an attempt to free up cap space, he would be transferred.
Regarding Aiyuk, for weeks there have been rumors he is not happy with the way the contract negotiations are going. There were allegations that he asked for a trade after he unfollowed the 49ers on social media. Aiyuk’s agent responded to the rumors by saying that those circulating them “need better sources,” meaning that Aiyuk had not actually asked for a trade.
Although it is debatable if Samuel and Aiyuk will remain in San Francisco for the long run, the team made the decision to pass on a talented pass catcher in the draft rather than run the chance of losing out on them.
It seems like the 49ers will attempt to make it work with both of its Pro Bowl wide outs for at least one more season, despite the fact that many people thought that dealing one or both of them was inevitable. It can’t be a terrible thing for Pearsall to spend his first season learning from two Pro Bowl players at his position.
Furthermore, Aiyuk was a huge supporter of the selection himself, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter disclosed on X (formerly
Aiyuk and Pearsall were teammates at Arizona State, as Schefter points out. 2019 was Aiyuk’s last year and Pearsall’s first year of college when they played together. In order to declare for the NFL Draft, Aiyuk quit school early.
Pearsall won’t be expected to immediately shoulder a heavy offensive responsibility, in contrast to several of the other rookie wide receivers selected before him, such as Marvin Harrison Jr. of the Arizona Cardinals. This is the advantage of having All-Pro tight end George Kittle at his position in addition to two Pro Bowl veterans already in place.
Brock Purdy’s top three passing possibilities are Samuel, Aiyuk, and Kittle, therefore Pearsall is ranked as the fourth option at most, and this isn’t even accounting for passing plays designed for All Pro running back Christian McCaffrey.
Fans shouldn’t anticipate seeing as much of Pearsall on the field in his rookie season as they would other first-round wide receivers who will be expected to pass targets straight away. Instead, Pearsall will be given time to acclimate to life in the NFL and, when Samuel and Aiyuk depart the squad, may become a top wide receiver in a year or two.
