By Robert MarviShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberEver since Brandon Aiyuk asked to be traded amid a contract dispute with the San Francisco 49ers during the 2024 offseason, nothing has gone right for him.
He had put forth a career-best effort in 2023 with 1,342 receiving yards, but after agreeing to a four-year, $120 million extension in August 2024, everything went south for him. He had just 25 catches out of 47 targets and 374 yards and no touchdowns in seven games last season before a torn ACL and MCL ended his year.
He has yet to play this season, and just days ago, the 49ers voided the rest of the guaranteed money on his deal for 2026. They seemed resigned to the fact that Aiyuk has, in all likelihood, played his last game for them.
Assuming Aiyuk does indeed have one foot out of the Bay Area already, Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report feels the NFC West rival Seattle Seahawks would be a "dream" fit for the 27-year-old, thanks in part to a couple of familiar faces.
"Seattle seems to have found it's quarterback in Sam Darnold and it playing like a legitimate Super Bowl contender," Knox wrote.
"The Seahawks also happen to employ offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who served in the same position with the 49ers during Aiyuk's breakout 2023 campaign.
"Guess what? Darnold was part of that 2023 squad too, even seeing a start as Brock Purdy's understudy.
"With all due respect to receivers like Cooper Kupp, Rashid Shaheed and Tory Horton, Aiyuk would provide a massive upgrade as Seattle's No. 2 receiver opposite Jaxon Smith-Njigba."
...Read more: Cowboys’ Dak Prescott Breaks Massive Franchise Record
Seattle has an 8-3 record and is just one game behind the Los Angeles Rams, who are hot and on top of the NFC at 9-2. It is third in points, and Smith-Njigba is leading the NFL with 80 catches and 1,313 receiving yards, to go along with seven touchdowns.
However, the Seahawks don't seem to have a legitimate WR2. Kupp, who was their big acquisition during the offseason along with Darnold, has a modest 414 yards and one touchdown on 31 catches through 10 games, and at age 32, perhaps mileage and injuries have finally caught up with him.
If Aiyuk hasn't lost any real natural ability after his severe knee injury, he could revitalize a Seahawks team that has spent the last several years trying to recreate the magic they had a decade ago when they won their first Super Bowl championship and nearly repeated as world champions.
Read more: Giants Linked to Intriguing Head Coaching Candidate From NFC Opponent
Aiyuk was the No. 25 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and had increased his production each season until his contract dispute in 2024. Without him this season, San Francisco entered Monday's game versus the Carolina Panthers with a 7-4 record despite being ravaged by the injury bug for the second year in a row.
For more on the 49ers, Seahawks and general NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
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