The Lions-Brandon Aiyuk trade story seems irresistible for some reason.
Over the course of this week, clubs with interest in trading for Brandon Aiyuk have pulled out and reopened negotiations, leaving the issue between him and the 49ers unsettled. But apparently, the “hold-in” is effective because 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan finds it annoying.
As quickly as it has been refuted, the Detroit Lions’ trade for Aiyuk has been floated. It’s easy to see why it wouldn’t be done.
-Amon-Ra St. Brown recently signed a top-of-the-market wide receiver contract with the Lions, and Aiyuk is hoping for a comparable (if not higher) annual salary.
-In an Aiyuk trade, the Lions are unlikely to forfeit the 49ers’ desired players and/or draft money.
-According to recent reports from NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, it also doesn’t appear realistic that any three-team trade situation would enable the Lions to get Aiyuk.
-Why would the 49ers deal Aiyuk to a team that is now the most likely to challenge them for the NFC title this season?
Given that the Lions still have a lot of salary room this season, it just doesn’t make sense as anything other than an all-in, “bleep it” move. That also doesn’t include the 49ers’ willingness to send Aiyuk to the club they were behind by 17 points at the half of the NFC Championship Game the previous season.
The analyst simply won’t let up on the notion that the Lions should Aiyuk Brandon
For his part, CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin approached Aiyuk’s predicament from the perspective that there may be “mystery teams”—or anonymous suitors—out there for him. That’s not a crazy notion, but given what we know or can reasonably infer, it’s a stretch to include the Lions on that list of three unknown clubs.
Amon-Ra St. Brown recently became one of the highest-paid receivers in the NFL, so you would assume the Lions wouldn’t want to commit a sizable sum of money to a second wide out. You need go no farther than the Philadelphia Eagles, who inked big contract extensions for Devonta Smith and A.J. Brown this summer. The Lions, who currently have the third-most salary budget room of any club (almost $43 million), also have a subtle need for additional receiving depth to relieve some of the load on rookie Jameson Williams. It wouldn’t be out of character for this squad to aspire for another major victory since they are pursuing a Super Bowl.”
-CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin
It’s undeniable that the Lions’ top three wide outs are now questionable. It’s not even that crazy to consider an addition to relieve some of the load on Jameson Williams.
But Aiyuk is the particular subject of this. For a variety of reasons, it doesn’t and never will make sense for the Lions to acquire him. However, in the interest of pure conjecture, that reasoning is being casually thrown aside, if not overtly ignored.
