Afrigather The Detroit Lions are reportedly not out there for an additional broad receiver, in accordance with latest studies. Nonetheless, an intriguing identify may doubtlessly be obtainable as the beginning of coaching camp looms.
With round every week earlier than groups start hitting the apply area for fall camp, San Francisco 49ers broad receiver Brandon Aiyuk has reportedly formally requested a commerce. Within the ultimate yr of his rookie contract, the 2020 first-round choose has been negotiating with the 49ers all through the offseason.
There was hypothesis about his future with the staff since they misplaced to Kansas Metropolis within the Tremendous Bowl. After back-to-back 1,000-plus yard receiving seasons, Aiyuk has been in the hunt for a brand new contract.
Aiyuk is a premier expertise on the place heading into the 2024 season. He is missed only one recreation during the last two seasons and has over 2,300 yards cumulative in that span. A giant-bodied receiver, he suits a necessity the Lions at the moment have as a longtime receiver with good dimension.
The Arizona State product is owed $14.124 million in 2024 on account of the staff choosing up his fifth-year possibility.
Whereas it is tempting to ponder the opportunity of the Lions making a transfer for the proficient wideout, it could find yourself being extra hurt than good in the long term.
For starters, the broad receiver market is excessive. The Lions know this effectively, having simply signed Amon-Ra St. Brown to a four-year extension with a median annual worth of $30 million. That deal was the most important given to a large receiver for precisely someday, when the Philadelphia Eagles surpassed that with their extension for A.J. Brown.
Stories have indicated that Aiyuk is looking for prime of the market cash. Simply to accumulate him in a commerce, the Lions must half with worthwhile Draft capital in addition to doubtlessly a longtime participant. As a result of the Lions have been so sturdy within the Draft below Brad Holmes, dealing away picks for a participant on the ultimate yr of a contract can be unwise.
To make the deal work, the Lions would seemingly must current Aiyuk with an extension. This is able to be one other powerful promote, as Detroit already has one prime of the market wideout in St. Brown. One other potential candidate for an extension, Jameson Williams, has two years remaining if the Lions elect to choose up his fifth-year possibility.
By providing Aiyuk a hefty extension after buying him, the Lions would additional harm the quantity of cap house they must pay all of their younger expertise. Gamers akin to Alim McNeill and Taylor Decker are within the ultimate years of their offers, whereas Aidan Hutchinson is extension eligible after this season.
Moreover, the Lions’ inactivity all through the offseason by way of including gamers on the place has been considerably telling. Kalif Raymond, Donovan Peoples-Jones and Antoine Inexperienced are all gamers with upside who had restricted receiving alternatives a yr in the past.
Although touchdown Aiyuk would make the Lions a greater staff and heighten their probabilities to win the Tremendous Bowl in 2024 instantly, the long-term value could outweigh the fast reward. With how affected person the Lions have historically been below Holmes, it is arduous to see the staff cashing within the chips they’ve collected now.
