49ers GM opens up about Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel trade rumors

During a Thursday appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show," San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch strongly suggested that neither Brandon Aiyuk nor fellow wide receiver Deebo Samuel will be traded before the 2024 season gets underway. 

"I’m doing everything in my power to keep our roster together," Lynch explained, as shared by Noah Strackbein of FanNation's All Steelers. "That’s my goal...When you talk about guys like Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo, those are guys that we drafted, and we take a lot of pride in what they’ve become and who they’ve become." 

Aiyuk was the subject of numerous trade rumors leading up to the draft because he is in the final year of his rookie contract one offseason before the 49ers likely will sign quarterback Brock Purdy to an expensive extension. 

Samuel is signed through the 2025 season, and his future became somewhat of a mystery when San Francisco made wide receiver Ricky Pearsall the 31st pick of the draft last Thursday night. 

According to Grant Gordon of the NFL's website, Lynch said last Friday evening that he "didn't entertain any" trade offers regarding Aiyuk or Samuel earlier that day. On Thursday, Lynch insisted the 49ers "couldn’t be more proud of" the two receivers. 

"And so, during the course of drafts and offseasons, do conversations happen? Absolutely, they do," Lynch continued on Thursday. "We’re past that now. We’re thrilled to add to that group."

While things often change quickly in the NFL, it seems that at least the Pittsburgh Steelers have closed the door on potentially acquiring either Aiyuk or Samuel before Week 1 in September. 

The thought is that a 49ers team that lost the Super Bowl this past February will hold onto talent and stay all in for as long as possible before the club parts ways with a key playmaker (likely Samuel) next offseason. 

As of Thursday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the 49ers second among the betting favorites at +600 odds to win Super Bowl LIX. 

San Francisco's offense unquestionably is better with both Aiyuk and Samuel on the roster, but it remains to be seen if one of them will try to force his way out of town between the first weekend of May and the end of the preseason.