The Baltimore Ravens shouldn't be done looking for offensive improvements on the trade market, as there is always a disgruntled wide receiver seeking to leave his team for a payday. After the Stefon Diggs trade, that role is being played by San Francisco 49ers stud Brandon Aiyuk.
The relationship between Aiyuk and the 49ers has been frosty from the beginning of the offseason, as Aiyuk wants to be paid after contributing a ton to the reigning NFC champions in his fourth season.
The former first-round pick will make $14.1 million this season, and then he could be franchise tagged as free agency looms in 2025. The Ravens should watch these negotiations closely, as No. 11 appears to be so ticked off by the 49ers that he won't even show support for them on social media.
Aiyuk is taking a page out of countless disgruntled players' playbooks in the last few years, as he has unfollowed the 49ers on Instagram in a show of his displeasure. If the Ravens are intent on adding a wide receiver high in the 2024 NFL Draft, why not use that pick as a deal sweetener to acquire a proven commodity like Aiyuk?
Brandon Aiyuk is no longer following the 49ers on IG 📲 https://t.co/Sw0AwSRrFE pic.twitter.com/XaYkO2agoJ
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) April 12, 2024
Baltimore Ravens should consider Brandon Aiyuk trade
The Ravens' hypothetical pursuit of Aiyuk faces two major barriers. On top of the fact Aiyuk has been linked hevaily to the Las Vegas Raiders (he grew up in Reno and was coached by Antonio Pierce at Arizona State), GM John Lynch has stated that Aiyuk is not currently available via trade.
If the Ravens can break down the 49ers' resolve with an enticing offer, Lamar Jackson will have the best supporting cast he has ever had in the pros. Aiyuk is fresh off a year in which he amassed 75 catches for 1,342 yards (17.9 per catch) and seven touchdowns. He is one of the best after-catch receivers this game has to offer.
While Baltimore can't afford to give everyone a huge contract due to how much money is tied up elsewhere in star players like Jackson and Roquan Smith, but there's a way to both give Aiyuk the money he deserves and do enough salary cap gymnastics to make it work. If the next two years are Super Bowl or bust, Aiyuk makes logical sense to acquire.
A wide receiver corps with Aiyuk and Zay Flowers using their lethal route-running to reel off big plays will complement the bruising running style of Derrick Henry perfectly. If the trade price isn't too high, Baltimore needs to at least check in and see what is up with the frustrated Aiyuk.