Emmanuel Acho Warns NFL Teams About Brandon Aiyuk Over Commitment Concerns

The San Francisco 49ers remain open for trading WR Brandon Aiyuk to another NFL team, but they are finding it difficult to make contact with him.

Emmanuel Acho Warns NFL Teams About Brandon Aiyuk Over Commitment Concerns

Brandon Aiyuk and Emmanuel Acho (Image via IMAGO/X)

There was a lot of buzz surrounding Brandon Aiyuk leading up to the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. Experts expected the San Francisco 49ers to field trade calls after general manager John Lynch admitted that they are open to parting ways with Aiyuk.

But that can only happen if the Niners can contact the player. And not just the Niners; other teams have tried to reach out to Aiyuk, but he has been AWOL, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

I think the reason a team is not trading for him right now is they don’t want to assume the current contract that he has. It’s a situation where he hasn’t been in clear and constant communication with the Niners and they have had a hard time getting a hold of him. Other teams have attempted to reach out and they have had a hard time getting a hold of him.

Schefter said via 49ers Access

If this continues deep into the OTAs and training camp, then the Niners risk losing the trade window. However, Emmanuel Acho on Speakeasy warned other teams to think twice before trading for Aiyuk.

Hell no [NFL teams shouldn’t want Brandon Aiyuk]. [He] hasn’t shown us that he still wants to play football. BA is a really, really good wide receiver. To me, he was a top-12 wide receiver at his height. But at the end of the day, if you quit on a team like the [San Francisco] 49ers… [a team that] probably has the best vibes in football over the last six seasons since Kyle Shanahan has shown up there. If you can quit on your brothers, who can’t you quit on?

Emmanuel Acho said

Acho noted that before the draft, the Niners gave Trent Williams a two-year, $50 million extension. If a player of Williams’ pedigree wants to continue playing even at 38, it only shows that the Niners are well run organization.

The 49ers want to trade Brandon Aiyuk

Lynch reportedly held a discussion with the Niners front office about letting Aiyuk leave. Using Aiyuk as draft capital seemed like the optimal solution.

Do I think it’s a high probability? Likely no. But is there a chance? Yeah, I think there’s a chance.

Lynch said during his post-draft news conference
Emmanuel Acho Warns NFL Teams About Brandon Aiyuk Over Commitment Concerns
Brandon Aiyuk (Image via IMAGO)

The Niners drafted Ole Miss wideout De’Zhaun Stribling 33rd overall kind of signaled the end of Aiyuk’s tenure in the Bay Area. However, the Pro Bowler remains a part of the Niners. Lynch faced the reporters and once again reminded other NFL teams that they are willing to trade Aiyuk.

We’re available. Give us a call… [Brandon Aiyuk is] an extremely talented player. He’s been an extremely effective player in our league — [the] situation didn’t work itself out here. That’s not to say that it can’t be rekindled somewhere else.

Lynch said (H/T: NFL.com)

Aiyuk signed a four-year, $120 million contract extension ahead of the 2024 season. He made just seven appearances before suffering an ACL injury. Aiyuk’s season ended with 25 catches for 374 yards and zero touchdowns. In July 2025, the Niners placed Aiyuk on the PUP list.

Four months later, in November, the Niners voided the guaranteed money in his contract for the 2026 season after failing to participate in the OTAs and training camp. In December, the Niners placed Aiyuk on their reserve/left squad list, ending his season.

The 49ers drafted Aiyuk 25th overall in 2020. Since then, he has caught 294 passes for 4305 yards and 25 touchdowns in 69 career NFL games.

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