Did 49ers tip that they plan to trade Brandon Aiyuk?

Sep 26, 2021; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) walks on the field before the game against the Green Bay Packers at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

The buzz surrounding a potential Brandon Aiyuk trade has only gotten louder after the San Francisco 49ers made their first selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The Niners on Thursday drafted Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall with the 31st overall pick. Reports emerged before the draft that the 49ers were dangling both Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel to move up in the first round.

No such trade materialized for San Francisco on Day 1. But with the 49ers drafting Pearsall in the first round, the team appears to have added some insurance at wide receiver in case it does move on from one of its established veterans.

Aiyuk is currently locked in a contract dispute with the 49ers and has been the subject of trade rumors for weeks leading up to the draft.

Aiyuk was the 49ers’ top receiver last season. The 26-year-old caught 75 passes for 1,342 yards with 7 receiving touchdowns across 16 games played. Aiyuk led the team in all three categories.

Pearsall recorded 65 catches for 965 yards with 4 touchdowns during his final season at Florida. Pearsall was one of 23 offensive players selected in the first round on Thursday — the most in NFL draft history.