49ers keeping Aiyuk trade door open as important deadline looms

The 49ers traded wide receiver Deebo Samuel this offseason.And president of football operations/general manager John Lynch is keeping his options open for the team to move wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk for the right price, too."You get calls and you always listen to calls," Lynch said last month at the NFL Scouting Combine when asked specifically about the possibility of a trade involving Aiyuk.If it is going to happen this offseason, it almost certainly would occur within the next week.Aiyuk is due a guaranteed option bonus of $22.855 million to be payable on April 1.In an offseason during which the 49ers are slashing future cap obligations, eliminating that payment would appear to fit into the team's long-term financial planning.The 49ers have reduced their future salary-cap liabilities to clear the way for the anticipated big-money contract extension for quarterback Brock Purdy. Lynch also said recently that the team intends to sign tight end George Kittle to a contract extension this offseason.But it might not be so easy to find a trade partner to pick up the remainder of Aiyuk's contract as he comes back from a significant knee injury. There is no guarantee he will be ready for...