The 49ers gambled big time when they traded three picks to the Minnesota Vikings to move up six spots in the first round to No. 25 to draft Arizona State wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Without the trade, San Francisco probably gets a better grade, but the risk to get the former Sun Devil was extremely high, so the selection gets a B- grade.
Aiyuk on paper makes a ton of sense for the 49ers. He’s a monster after the catch, plays faster than his 4.5 40-yard dash, and stretches the field vertically better than any receiver on the 49ers’ roster. Pairing him with Deebo Samuel and San Francisco’s other weapons will make life difficult for opposing defenses.
However, the move up to 25 in the first round cost San Francisco pick Nos. 31, 117 and 176. That leaves them with three picks in this year’s draft – one each in the final three rounds.
The 49ers effectively mortgaged their 2020 draft to take Aiyuk. That’s a tall price to pay for a receiver in a class as deep as this one. Aiyuk needs to turn in a monster rookie season and develop into a Pro-Bowl caliber wideout. It’s not out of the realm of possibilities, but it’s undoubtedly a massive risk.
If it works out, the 49ers offense will be very difficult to stop. If it doesn’t, it could be a pretty significant long-term setback.
