The Buffalo Bills should consider bolstering their wide receiver depth this offseason, and a potential veteran receiver may already be on the market for NFL teams to explore.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk doesn’t seem like he will be returning to the Bay Area next season.
49ers general manager John Lynch met with the media on Wednesday at the team’s offseason press conference to discuss Aiyuk’s future.
“I think it’s safe to say he’s played his last snap with the 49ers,” Lynch told reporters, via CBS Sports Bryan DeArdo.
Aiyuk didn’t play a single snap this season while recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in 2024, but he didn’t feel motivated to get back on the field.
According to ESPN’s Nick Wagoner, Aiyuk skipped multiple rehab sessions, which preceded the 49ers’ decision to void the guarantees in his four-year, $120 million contract.
Bills Named Fit For Aiyuk
Since the 49ers will be moving on from Aiyuk, Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton thinks the Bills would be a good landing spot for him.
“This season, Khalil Shakir led the Bills across most receiving categories, hauling in 72 of 95 targets for 719 yards and four touchdowns. He’s a solid receiver who operates primarily out of the slot, but the 6-foot, 190-pounder doesn’t put fear in defenders in critical situations or in the red zone,” Moton wrote on Thursday. “Four years into his career, Shakir hasn’t scored more than four touchdowns or racked up more than 821 receiving yards in a single season. Also, he’s averaged fewer than 11 yards per catch in consecutive terms.”
“Averaging 14.6 yards per reception, Aiyuk would be a significant upgrade over Shakir as a big-play receiver and pose more of a scoring threat. The 49ers’ soon-to-be ex-receiver has 25 career touchdown receptions. Shakir has 11.”
Since the 49ers still have Aiyuk under contract for three more seasons, they could consider trading him before releasing him.
Buffalo likely wouldn’t have to give up anything major to get Aiyuk in a trade, but it would need to free up some cap space to add him.
“The Bills would need to free up cap space to make room for Aiyuk,” Moton added. “That said, when healthy, the talented receiver has shown that he can be a go-to target for a passing attack that needs consistency and a spark.”
Taking On Aiyuk Would Be a Risk
Aiyuk has completed five seasons in the NFL, amassing a total of 4,305 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns over the course of 69 games.
Bringing Aiyuk on board for the Bills could be a gamble, especially considering he has only played in seven games since 2024 and is recovering from an injury. Additionally, he brings some baggage from his time with a well-run organization like the 49ers, which could pose challenges in Buffalo.
The Bills should only pursue Aiyuk if all their other options fall through, like a trade for Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown.
Buffalo will be interested in monitoring this offseason to see what moves it makes to put the roster in a position to make the Super Bowl.
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