Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk's Best Landing Spots After 2024 NFL Draft Day 1 | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

Aiyuk's future has been a discussion point throughout much of the offseason, and it reached the point that his agent, Ryan Williams, denied a rumor the wide receiver requested a trade earlier this month.

Still, there have been some head-turning developments and comments. Aiyuk unfollowed the team on Instagram and then seemed to suggest "money talks, bulls--t walks" in response to comments from general manager John Lynch.

Brooke Pryor @bepryor

Meanwhile, Brandon Aiyuk on IG <a href=""> <a href="">

Lynch told reporters, "We're actively talking with Brandon trying to figure something out. We have a good history of working with the guys we want to get done to get something done and it takes two sides. So, can we do that? We'll see. There's a number of different directions that it could go but we appreciate the heck out of Brandon and who he is as a player, and we want him to be a part of the Niners."

Yet there are some potential trade candidates if the two sides don't work something out this offseason:

• Pittsburgh Steelers
• Buffalo Bills
• Los Angeles Chargers

The Pittsburgh Steelers traded Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers, leaving them very little in terms of proven playmakers at wide receiver outside of George Pickens. Yet they didn't address the position in Thursday's first round and instead took offensive lineman Troy Fautanu at No. 20 overall.

Whether it is Russell Wilson or Justin Fields under center, the quarterback will need more firepower than just Pickens if the Steelers are going to keep up with the likes of Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson in the AFC North.

Elsewhere, the Buffalo Bills need a go-to wide receiver for Josh Allen after trading Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans and losing Gabe Davis to free agency. Curtis Samuel is a solid addition, but Aiyuk would help make up for the lost production that left with two of the team's previous go-to receivers.

Buffalo and Pittsburgh aren't the only AFC teams replacing lost production at wide receiver, as the Los Angeles Chargers moved on from both Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. It could have taken a pass-catcher at No. 5 overall but instead bolstered the offensive line with Joe Alt.

Justin Herbert can make almost any NFL receiver look good, but he would be quite the pairing with Aiyuk.