The New York Giants drafted an elite wide receiver talent in LSU’s Malik Nabers, though they are still several pieces away from being a potent offense, especially following Darren Waller’s retirement. Earlier this week, a star wide receiver made headlines for an ongoing contract situation, and the Giants could pounce on the opportunity that has been presented.
Earlier this week, San Francisco 49ers star quarterback Brandon Aiyuk posted a video to social media in which he was on a FaceTime call with Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels and described his situation with the 49ers as bleak.
“They don’t want me back,” Aiyuk told Daniels, his former teammate at Arizona State, on the FaceTime call (h/t ESPN’s Adam Schefter).
Brandon Aiyuk and the 49ers can’t agree on an extension
Aiyuk has been in the midst of a contract dispute with the 49ers as he seeks a long-term deal. Currently, he is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2025, though he has been looking for a lucrative check from San Francisco since last offseason and to no avail up to this point.
As the situation with the 49ers continues to go off the rails, the likelihood that he is playing elsewhere this upcoming season continues to grow. The Giants could be the perfect fit for him long-term. They still are in search of legitimate no. 1 or no. 2 caliber receivers, and Aiyuk fits the model perfectly.
Brandon Aiyuk would be a perfect fit for the Giants
The 26-year-old is coming off his best season as a pro with 1,342 receiving yards on an average of 17.9 yards per reception and scored seven receiving touchdowns. He also had the third-best success rate in the NFL last season at 70.5%. Aiyuk was instrumental in San Francisco’s run to the Super Bowl and his efforts earned him a Second-Team All-Pro selection, the first of his career.
The Giants could use an elite talent like Aiyuk, who brings a combination of speed and aggression to make plays. On top of that, he is an elite playmaker who excels at getting long gains, something in which the Giants severely lacked in last season. Currently, Nabers is projected to be the team’s no. 1 option, with Wan’Dale Robinson, Jalin Hyatt, and Darius Slayton expected to fill out the wide receiver room.
While that group of young receivers could develop into a very strong group over time, the Giants need to give quarterback Daniel Jones the strongest weapons possible this upcoming season. Jones hasn’t had the luxury of having All-Pro level targets at his disposal for the majority of his career, and Aiyuk would finally give him that option while also forming an elite wide receiver tandem of him and Nabers.
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Giving Daniel Jones an elite weapon could make a strong case for him to stay long-term
This upcoming season is a “prove-it” year for Daniel Jones, in a very similar fashion as he was entering the 2022 season which led to him earning a massive contract extension following a playoff appearance and wild card victory. In order for the team to really see if Jones can excel with stronger targets, they would need to add a player of Aiyuk’s caliber.
The only downside to taking on Aiyuk is, obviously, his contract situation. If the 49ers deal Aiyuk to a different team, that team now has the responsibility of handling the upcoming contract negotiations with him and his camp. Therefore, if the Giants want to take him on, general manager Joe Schoen will have to be willing to pay Aiyuk a long-term extension if they wish to keep him around beyond next season.
As training camp looms closer, expect Aiyuk’s availability in the trade market to become clearer and look for New York to potentially make an offer for the All-Pro receiver.