NFL Insider on Brandon Aiyuk Trade Rumors: Colts, Jags Top Landing Spots for 49ers WR

NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah views two AFC South teams as strong contenders to potentially trade for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.

In a post on X, Jeremiah noted that he keeps "coming back to" the Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars when he considers possible landing spots for Aiyuk.

Aiyuk's contract is set to expire at the end of the 2024 season, thus making him a potential trade candidate. Michael Silver of the San Francisco Chronicle reported Tuesday that an Aiyuk trade remains in play entering the start of the 2024 NFL draft on Thursday.

The 26-year-old Aiyuk is coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, including a career-high 1,342 yards in 2023. He also had 75 receptions and seven touchdown catches last season, and he set a new career high with 17.9 yards per catch.

On an offense that also boasted wide receiver Deebo Samuel, tight end George Kittle and running back Christian McCaffrey, Aiyuk was quarterback Brock Purdy's favorite target in the passing game, which speaks volumes about his ability.

However, given that the Niners have so much elite talent on both sides of the ball, they can't afford to pay everyone a premium contract, and that could lead to them either trading Aiyuk or allowing him to leave next offseason in free agency.

Silver noted that the 49ers have been asking for a first-round pick in exchange for Aiyuk in a potential trade, and both the Colts and Jags are picking in the same area.

Indy owns the No. 15 overall pick and Jacksonville has the No. 17 overall pick, so they can both make San Francisco a similar offer.

Despite rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson missing most of last season due to injury, the Colts performed well beyond expectations, going 9-8 and falling one win short of winning the AFC South and reaching the playoffs.

Veteran quarterback Gardner Minshew, who is now with the Las Vegas Raiders, had a great rapport with wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., who led the team with 109 catches for 1,152 yards and four touchdowns.

Pittman seems like a legitimate No. 1, and they have a solid slot guy in Josh Downs, who had 711 yards as a rookie last season, but the Colts need another outside threat, and Aiyuk could fill that need.

As for the Jags, they too finished just outside the playoffs with a 9-8 record last season, although it was considered a massive disappointment since they were the clear favorites to win the AFC South.

Jacksonville had a talented group of pass-catchers last season in wide receivers Calvin Ridley, Christian Kirk and Zay Jones, plus tight end Evan Engram, but it lost Ridley to the Tennessee Titans in free agency this offseason.

Ridley led the Jags with 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns, and his departure leaves the team without a clear No. 1 wideout. The Jaguars did sign former Buffalo Bills wide receiver Gabe Davis in free agency, but he is more of a complement than a go-to guy.

Aiyuk would instantly become quarterback Trevor Lawrence's No. 1 target and allow the Jags to compete with a stacked Houston Texans offense that added Stefon Diggs this offseason to a receiving corps that already included Nico Collins and Tank Dell.

It is likely that several teams have inquired about the possibility of trading for Aiyuk given his production in recent years, but since the 49ers are looking to return to the Super Bowl next season and win it, it is far from guaranteed that they will move him even if they receive a good offer.