The San Francisco 49ers may find themselves in the market for another impact wide receiver this offseason. With Brandon Aiyuk's tenure in San Francisco appearing to wind down and both Jauan Jennings and Kendrick Bourne set to hit free agency, the position could look very different in 2026. That has fueled speculation about whether the 49ers could explore a blockbuster move for A.J. Brown of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Trade chatter around Brown has picked up recently amid reports of tension between the star receiver and the organization.
"Well, some people I've talked to around the league, some executives of other teams, do expect that the Eagles will at least entertain a trade for A.J. Brown, who was unhappy on numerous fronts," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler recently said.
Building on that buzz, Bleacher Report's Moe Moton outlined five realistic trade scenarios for Brown—and included the 49ers in one proposal.
In Moton's projection, San Francisco would send a 2026 second-round pick, a 2026 fifth-round pick, and Aiyuk to Philadelphia in exchange for Brown.
"The 49ers can't reasonably expect wide receiver Ricky Pearsall to handle a heavy target share," Moton wrote. "Though he's shown flashes, the 25-year-old has suffered multiple injuries after recovering from a gunshot wound in 2024. In two seasons, the former first-rounder has suited up for 20 games."
Additionally, 32-year-old tight end George Kittle is coming off an Achilles injury. While Kittle has surprisingly expressed optimism about being ready for Week 1 of the 2026 season, his availability remains uncertain.
"With a $265 million investment in quarterback Brock Purdy, San Francisco needs to bolster his supporting cast to get the most out of him," Moton added. "Brown would be the 49ers' top receiver and take some of the pass-catching workload off soon-to-be 30-year-old Christian McCaffrey and Pearsall."
From a production standpoint, Brown fits the bill. He has topped 1,000 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in six of his seven NFL seasons, averaging 15.3 yards per catch over his career. His 1,003 receiving yards last season would have led the 49ers, and his seven touchdown receptions would have ranked second—behind Jennings—among the team's wide receivers.
As for Aiyuk, most signs point toward a fresh start elsewhere.
"One way or another, Aiyuk needs a change of scenery after he cut off communication with the 49ers during his knee injury rehab process," Moton wrote. "There's no guarantee he'll be motivated to play in Philadelphia, but the Eagles can kick the tires on him as a pickup along with second- and fifth-round picks."
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