thelesterlee
This week, Brandon Aiyuk officially requested a trade, after flirting with the idea for years. The San Francisco 49ers aren’t giving him the big payday he believes he deserves and it’s time to find a team that will.
He’s coming off the best season of his career scoring 7 TDs and racking up a career-high 1,342 yards.
Aiyuk has established himself as a Top 10 receiver who is one of the best route runners and a guy who can take a quick slant to the endzone. More than 37% of his receptions went 20-plus yards, leading the NFL last season.
Kyle Shanahan is tremendous at turning George Kittle, Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffrey into excellent receiving threats but he’ll miss having an actual wide receiver around.
So let’s talk about teams that should make the call to bring Aiyuk into their building.
Honorable mention—Pittsburgh Steelers: It appears the Steelers are Aiyuk’s biggest suitor and Russell Wilson has never once, in his entire career, made a wide receiver look like a Top 10 guy. Shout out to Tyler Lockett but nah, I don’t wish Russ on any receiver. Especially in 2024 after Russ spent the last 2 seasons in Denver playing like he had money on every single opposing team.
For my entire life, Pittsburgh always had the best receiving group. They’re an honorable mention because I’d love to see George Pickens and Brandon Aiyuk lined up together in a bunch formation where opposing corners have no idea how they’re about to cover them but have you watched Russell Wilson play football in the last 3 years? What would even be the point?
1. Buffalo Bills
Stefon Diggs served his purpose. I totally understand why it was time to move on.
Josh Allen is the 3rd best QB in the world.
And real quick, a ton of folks say he’s no. 2 behind Mahomes. Lamar Jackson has 2 MVPs. Josh has zero (0). I just want to point this out to all the NFL folks hawk tua-ing on Allen.
BUT, regardless, Josh’s ability to create through chaos in the backfield would make Aiyuk the perfect target as a guy who seems to always get open and create something from nothing. Brandon Aiyuk would save Josh from running it himself and taking unnecessary, extra hits. He’ll be right where JA needs him to be.
I just don’t want this Josh Allen season to be wasted because the Bills are broke and can’t afford talent.
Tom Brady has tricked us into believing all these great QBs last forever. They don’t. Especially guys like Josh who like to get physical.
Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers are coming. Whenever the Jaguars decide to become a professional organization, Trevor Lawrence is coming. If Tua can withstand temperatures below 80 degrees, the Dolphins are coming.
Windows close.
Go get a star.
2. Indianapolis Colts
I’ve seen a ton of NFL preview content rating the Colts as a potential playoff team.
How?
Michael Pittman Jr is cool or whatever and I know he had 109 receptions last season but like, someone had to catch passes with Indy’s shitty, talentless receiving group.
But it feels like we’re about to witness the same problems Cam Newton suffered in Carolina.
Cam was throwing to Greg Olsen and a bunch of local North Carolina residents whose names were pulled out of a lottery to play wide receiver every Sunday like The Hunger Games.
Cam’s body was destroyed carrying bums.
Anthony Richardson already lost his rookie season dealing with the same malpractice. Richardson could become the next Daunte Culpepper but Culpepper was throwing to Randy Moss.
Brandon Aiyuk isn’t Randy Moss. No one is. But Aiyuk is exponentially better than *squints* Josh fucking Downs.
3. New England Patriots
Let me copy and paste everything I just said about Anthony Richardson but replace his name with Drake Maye.
I think Maye might have the best arm talent in this year’s draft but we’ll never get a chance to see it because offensively, he’s surrounded by guys who should feel guilty writing “NFL player” on their taxes.
Aiyuk just had his best season with Brock Purdy after trying to catch passes from Nick Mullens and Jimmy Garoppolo. I’d love to see him with a true gunslinger who is capable of giving him the crazy stats I know he’s capable of putting up.
Also I’m incredibly biased. I want to see black coaches succeed. Mayo may produce a top defense but, ya know, I’d like for him to win games before they inevitably fire him for the ‘genius’ who can unlock Drake Maye. Before they replace Jerrod Mayo with a random white dude named like “Tyler McMichael” who gets hired because he was in the same high school math class with Sean McVay, let’s give this Patriots offense every chance to thrive.
4. New York Giants
If you’ve been to Deadseriousness before, you know I have to sneak the Giants on all these star player trade lists even though the QB has the aura of a dead squirrel on the side of the road BUT, New York has a talented young receiving group.
Between Malik Nabors, Jalin Hyatt and Wan’Dale Robinson—New York’s cup runneth over with untapped potential.
I truly believe having a legit vet who has made Super Bowl runs in those team meetings would accelerate their development. Shout out Darius Slayton but like, Daniel Jones needs a possession receiver who will always be open when he scrambles around.
That was supposed to be Darren Waller but he’s busy being the most divorced man, dropping the worst R&B songs anyone’s ever heard.
Thanks for reading.
What’s the biggest storyline heading into the 2024 NBA playoffs? Leave a comment below. Respond on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. Or shoot me an email at Deadseriousmailbag@gmail.com. Let’s chat, bay-beeeee.
