Jaguars and WR Brandon Aiyuk rumored to have mutual trade interest

The Jacksonville Jaguars lost wide receiver Calvin Ridley in free agency, and it seems like they'll leave no stone unturned to find his replacement. Just recently, a rumor surfaced on social media that there may be mutual interest between them and All-Pro receiver Brandon Aiyuk.

Twitter user @PrettyRickey213 or Rickey has previously reported moves that turned out to be correct. Just recently, he pointed out that Aiuyuk is now following the Jags on Instagram but only heard that Deebo Samuel has been floated in potential offers. But if you don't think Rickey213 is trustworthy, Mia O'Brien of 1010 XL replied that there's mutual interest between Aiyuk and the Jags.

Aiyuk, a first-round pick in 2020, is entering the fifth year of his rookie deal. He's been the San Francisco 49ers' top receiver the past two years and one of their best players, regardless of the position. While there has been chatter that Aiyuk could request a trade, the Niners are working with him to get a deal done.

That said, there's always a chance talks will break down, so it makes sense for all the parties involved to explore other options. Similarly, it doesn't hurt the Jaguars to inquire about any players who may be on the trade block. After all, they've previously been dubbed a potential landing spot for Aiyuk.

Coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, Aiyuk may want to get a top-market deal. However, San Francisco has already allocated significant resources to Deebo Samuel, Christian McCaffrey, and edge rusher Nick Bosa, so they may have trouble meeting Aiyuk's contract demands.

Premature to predict a Jaguars trade for Brandon Aiyuk

When there's smoke, there's fire and Rickey has been right about many moves that have taken place during free agency. He reported that an AFC South team would swoop in and sign Calvin Ridley. Similarly, he said wide receiver Darnell Money would sign with the Atlanta Falcons, and Brian Burns was going to be traded for second and fifth-round picks.

Either Rickey has clairvoyant skills or reliable sources but people are most definitely paying close attention to what he's saying. In this case, the Jaguars' interest in Aiyuk may be real but that doesn't mean they'll get something done. At this point, they're probably just looking at options to replace Calvin Ridley, some more feasible than others.

Having said that, trade talks could heat up at any time if all parties involved get on the same wavelength. It would probably take the Jaguars a first-round pick and maybe a third or fourth to get a deal done.

On top of that, the Jags would need to give Aiyuk the kind of contract he wants, and it won't come cheap. Then again, they would be getting one of the top receivers in the league, so that may be a price they're willing to pay if that means having a better chance to recapture the AFC South in 2024.

All teams in the division have been busy in free agency. In an effort to keep up, maybe the Jacksonville Jaguars will pull the trigger and acquire Brandon Aiyuk. Again, it's currently just a rumor but that doesn't mean it won't happen.

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