The Jaguars may need WR help in the offseason. Will Brandon Aiyuk be a viable option?
The Jacksonville Jaguars feature three great wide receivers: Zay Jones, Christian Kirk, and Calvin Ridley. However, they may need to part ways with either Jones or Ridley during the summer. If they do, wide receiver will become a necessity. According to Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report, they might fix it by dealing for Brandon Aiyuk, who was named to the Second Team All-Pro.
Knox compiled a list of potential trade partners for Aiyuk, which included the Jaguars, stating that he might provide Trevor Lawrence with a new weapon if Ridley goes in free agency.
“Jacksonville would be an excellent landing destination for Aiyuk, provided Lawrence can regain his 2022 form. Aiyuk would immediately become Lawrence’s top option, but the Jags have enough good pass-catchers—including Kirk, Jones, Evan Engram, and running back Travis Etienne—to keep Aiyuk from constantly encountering double coverage.”
Aiyuk, a first-round choice in the 2020 draft, is coming off consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. Last year, he was the top target for the San Francisco 49ers’ offense, which also featured Deebo Samuel, Christian McCaffrey, and George Kittle.
The 49ers took up the fifth-year option on his rookie contract, so he’s under contract until 2024. Nonetheless, he’s been the topic of contract negotiations because San Francisco is $12 million in debt and he’s looking for a contract extension.
Even though Aiyuk has stated that he wants to stay in the Bay Area (if it is the correct decision), there is no certainty he will return in 2024. If the 49ers feel that moving on from him is the best option, they could put him on the trade block and request at least a first-round selection in exchange.
Furthermore, the club that buys the former Arizona State Sun Devil must offer him a new deal. Given the inherent volatility of picking a receiver, a few teams may be prepared to take a chance on Aiyuk. However, the Jaguars should not be among them.
Here is why the Jaguars should not deal for Brandon Aiyuk.
Calvin Ridley caught 76 passes for 1,016 yards and had eight receptions in his first season with the Black and Teal. He’s now going to hit the open market
One factor that may prevent the Jaguars from re-signing Ridley is that they committed to give the Atlanta Falcons their 2024 second-round pick if they extended him. However, if they allow him to leave in free agency, it will be only one-third.
However, the Jaguars could keep the second-round pick and keep Ridley if they use the franchise tag on him or allow him to become a free agency before re-signing him. The main issue with the first scenario is that they would need to grant Josh Allen a contract extension first, before tagging Ridley. Similarly, they would.
run the risk of getting outbid in free agency if the star receiver is available. But even when you factor in the second-round pick, the Jags are better off keeping Ridley than pursuing Aiyuk.
After all, the Jaguars are already slated to give Atlanta a draft pick. They would have to surrender another one if they traded for Aiyuk. Moreover, Ridley is as talented as Aiyuk, and he’s already spent a season in Jacksonville. When you take into account that the Jaguars would have to give an extension to either one, they might be better off going with the devil they know.
The bottom line is that Brandon Aiyuk is a talented wideout, one that could help plenty of teams in need at the position. The Jaguars aren’t one of them though.
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