The San Francisco 49ers are nearing the deadline to trade Brandon Aiyuk. However, trading Aiyuk could leave a hole in their roster that they could fill with Travis Hunter.
The 49ers currently have the 11th overall pick in the NFL Draft. It’s unlikely that Travis Hunter will be available when they get on the clock. However, they could use Aiyuk as an asset to both save some money and move up into a position to draft Hunter. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell proposed this blockbuster trade that would send Aiyuk to the Patriots:
- 49ers receive: No.4 overall pick and Cole Strange
- Patriots receive: No.11 overall pick and Brandon Aiyuk
“In this scenario, the 49ers could draft Hunter, who would appeal to both Shanahan, an offensive mastermind, and defensive coordinator Robert Saleh,” wrote Barnwell. “Remember that Saleh turned around his Jets defense by drafting Sauce Gardner, who was an instant superstar corner after being taken with the No. 4 pick in 2022. Hunter would fill a huge hole for the 49ers, a position we’ve seen the franchise previously prioritize with free agent signings such as Richard Sherman and Charvarius Ward.”
Not only would Hunter replace Ward in the secondary, but he could also help fill the void that would be left by Aiyuk. Aiyuk is due a $22.85 million option bonus on Tuesday, so any trade for Aiyuk would have to be done before then. The 49ers already have Jauan Jennings, who broke out last season, and spent a first-round pick on Ricky Pearsall last year. They would not need Hunter to play both ways at the same rate he did for the Colorado Buffaloes, but they could still use his ability as a pass catcher.
“And isn’t Shanahan the perfect coach to find spots for Hunter in 10-15 snaps a game? The 49ers have been extremely aggressive in pursuing players whom they see as transcendent difference-makers, even if it means paying premiums to acquire them,” wrote Barnwell. “This was the same franchise that once suggested it would have taken Reuben Foster at No. 3 overall. It also traded three first-round picks to the Dolphins for Trey Lance. If the 49ers love Hunter, they might throw positional value by the wayside.”
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Hunter definitely fits the mod to become a “transcendent” player. Hunter played a total of 1,280 snaps for the Colorado Buffaloes last season. He logged 670 snaps on offense and 686 on defense. He finished the season with 1,258 receiving yards, 15 receiving touchdowns, four interceptions, 36 tackles, 11 passes defended and a forced fumble. He won the Heisman Trophy and the Chuck Bednarik Award. He was also named an All-American for the second consecutive season.
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