Brandon Aiyuk’s Time in San Francisco Appears Over - So Who’s Next for the 49ers at WR?
For much of the past few months, it felt like Brandon Aiyuk’s days in a 49ers uniform were numbered. After the team voided the guaranteed money on his 2026 contract-citing unmet rehab obligations stemming from a knee injury suffered midway through the 2024 season-Aiyuk essentially vanished from the team’s orbit.
And this week, general manager John Lynch all but confirmed the inevitable, saying, *“Sometimes, it just doesn’t work out.” *
Whether the 49ers trade Aiyuk or release him outright is still to be seen, but the message is clear: San Francisco is preparing to move on.
But losing Aiyuk is just the beginning of what’s shaping up to be a pivotal offseason for the Niners’ wide receiver room. Jauan Jennings is headed for unrestricted free agency, and Kendrick Bourne is right there with him.
Lynch has stated that retaining Jennings is a top priority-and for good reason. He’s been a reliable chain-mover and physical presence.
But even if Jennings returns, the 49ers will still need to find someone who can stretch the field vertically.
Jennings, for all his toughness and third-down value, isn’t that guy. His 11.7 yards per catch in 2025 tied for 80th among all NFL pass-catchers. Aiyuk, by contrast, was a legitimate big-play threat before the injury-averaging 15.0 yards per reception in 2024 and a blistering 17.9 in his All-Pro 2023 campaign.
So where does San Francisco go from here?
Alec Pierce Could Be the Answer
If the 49ers are looking to replace Aiyuk’s vertical presence, there’s one name that jumps off the page: Alec Pierce.
Pierce, a second-round pick by the Colts in 2022, had a solid start to his career-73 catches for 1,107 yards and four touchdowns across his first two seasons. But over the past two years, he’s taken his game to another level. He’s not just a deep threat-he’s the deep threat, leading the NFL in yards per catch in both 2024 and 2025.
In 2024, Pierce caught just 37 passes, but turned them into 824 yards-a staggering 22.3 yards per reception. Seven of those catches went for touchdowns. Then in 2025, he upped the volume without losing the explosiveness: 47 catches, 1,003 yards, six touchdowns, and a league-leading 21.3 yards per grab.
And here’s the kicker: he did it with just one drop on 84 targets. That kind of efficiency, paired with elite vertical production, is rare.
Now, Pierce is hitting free agency and will have no shortage of suitors. The Colts may try to bring him back, but the 49ers should absolutely be in the mix.
Ricky Pearsall has flashed the potential to be a vertical weapon, but availability has been a concern. And while Bourne actually led the Niners in yards per catch in 2025 (14.9, tied for 16th in the league), there’s no guarantee he returns either.
The Price Tag
Pierce won’t come cheap. Spotrac projects him to land a four-year deal worth just under $81 million-roughly $20 million per season.
That’s a significant investment, but in today’s market, it’s not outlandish. Some WR2s are pushing $25 million or more per year, and for a player who’s proven he can consistently take the top off a defense and do it efficiently, the value might be there.
If the 49ers want to maintain their offensive explosiveness while transitioning away from Aiyuk, Pierce is a name to watch. He brings the kind of vertical juice that Kyle Shanahan’s offense can weaponize, especially with defenses already stretched thin trying to account for Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and Deebo Samuel.
Bottom line: If San Francisco wants to stay dangerous through the air, replacing Aiyuk’s downfield production isn’t optional-it’s essential. And Alec Pierce might just be the right fit at the right time.