Brandon Aiyuk now looks set for a summer move as 49ers prepare to part ways

Salary cap flexibility increases after June 1

The difference between making a move before or after June 1 is significant, according to Spotrac’s breakdown of the 49ers’ salary cap. It explains why holding off now seems to be the most straightforward approach.

Waiting until the summer to finalise a trade would help San Francisco match up the timing of its decision with financial advantages. That tends to be how these situations play out, especially when there’s no rush and patience is actually more beneficial than acting quickly.

It’s sounding like too much has happened to fix this

San Francisco doesn’t sound like it’s waiting around for things to be repaired. Lynch has been open about Aiyuk being a good player who might do well elsewhere, which is often how teams talk when the break is about more than just football.

When things get to that stage, it’s usually more about timing than trying to make up. The 49ers don’t have much reason to settle for a poor return now if the same deal might look better once injuries, training camp and shifting depth charts start reshaping needs around the league.

Why does this feel more like when, not if

There’s still a chance that the trade market cools off for a bit. But the way San Francisco is talking about it, combined with the depth at receiver and the cap situation, all seem to point in the same direction. That’s usually a good indicator that something is already in motion, even if it hasn’t been finalised yet.

Aiyuk is technically still part of the team for now. But from everything being said around the organisation, it sounds more like they’re just waiting for the right moment to make a move. And right now, summer looks like when that’ll happen.

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