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By Matthew Davis
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The Baltimore Ravens did more than free up money for star edge Trey Hendrickson when the team restructured quarterback Lamar Jackson’s contract.
Baltimore freed up almost $40 million in salary cap space with Jackson’s restructure. That leaves more than enough room to pursue a talented veteran wide receiver in Brandon Aiyuk, who will be released by the San Francisco 49ers this offseason.
The Athletic’s Nick Wagoner, a 49ers insider, first reported the news on Wednesday. Aiyuk has 294 receptions for 4,3045 yards and 25 touchdowns in 69 career games since 2020, but he has been mostly sidelined since October 2024 due to injury.
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Availability and talent aren’t the reasons for the 49ers cutting Aiyuk. He has been in trade rumors for years, and Aiyuk publicly sought a big contract in 2024.
Aiyuk landed a four-year, $120 million contract with the Niners, which paid him $76 million guaranteed. The Niners can take the financial load off by releasing him, as the team has kept winning without him on the field.
Baltimore needs another strong receiver for Jackson to throw to, and Aiyuk fits that bill. Aiyuk is 6-foot-0, 200 pounds, and he’s looking to come back healthy after tearing his ACL, MCL, and meniscus in 2024.
His last full season in 2023 consisted of 78 receptions for 1,015 yards and eight touchdowns. Aiyuk also had 75 catches for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns the year before in 2022.
Jackson would have a deep ball threat in Aiyuk, who has a career average of 14.6 yards per reception. Aiyuk’s career best of 17.9 yards came in 2023 when he helped the 49ers reach the Super Bowl.
That’s a place Jackson has not been able to lead the Ravens yet, and part of that has been wide receiver talent. If the Ravens can beat out free agency competition for Aiyuk, Jackson will have one of the best targets of his career lining up nearby.
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