The Houston Texans can go in a lot of different directions this offseason.
Giving quarterback C.J. Stroud more offensive weapons should be at the top of the team’s priority list, though, and they have the salary cap space to sign a big-name free agent or trade for one who could be looking for a new deal.
One such name that recently popped up on the rumor mill is San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. He’s entering the final year of his rookie deal and ESPN’s Dan Graziano wrote on Feb. 19 that the 49ers will “most likely” trade Aiyuk to a team that can pay him the big-money deal he will look for in 2025.
“The most likely way this shakes out is Aiyuk ends up getting traded to a team where he’s the clear No. 1 wideout and where he can get the extension he wants, leaving the 49ers to draft his replacement in the first round.” Graziano wrote. “That’s the cleanest way for them to address all of their needs.”
The Texans are in a prime position to pull off a move for Aiyuk. Houston has the salary cap space, could use another wide receiver and has the draft capital to facilitate a trade.
But does that make the most sense? Here are the pros and cons to trading for – and likely signing – Aiyuk.
Pro: A clear-cut WR1
Aiyuk proved over the past two seasons he could be a No. 1 pass-catching threat. He led the 49ers in targets over the past two seasons where he posted consecutive 75-catch, 1,000-yard seasons and scored 15 touchdowns.
This is not to say the Texans’ current duo of Nico Collins and Tank Dell aren’t enough. Collins broke out in 2023 with his first 1,000-yard season and Dell was on his way as a rookie before a season-ending injury. Aiyuk would be the clear top receiving threat on the offense, though, and elevate the offense further.
Con: Cost to acquire
Aiyuk would be expensive – both from an acquisition and extension standpoint.
Four wide receiver were traded for at least one first-round pick in 2022: Tyreek Hill, A.J. Brown, Davante Adams and Marquise Brown. Three of the four cost more than that. The Miami Dolphins sent five picks to the Kansas City Chiefs for Hill, while Adams netted the Green Bay Packers an extra second and the Tennessee Titans earned an extra third for Brown.
Aiyuk would likely fall somewhere just outside the Brown range. But a first-round pick would be the starting point for any trade. The Texans could easily give up the No. 23 pick for Aiyuk, but it’s unclear if they’d want to send more.
Pro: Familiarity with offense
Head coach DeMeco Ryans and offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik both came from San Francisco and worked with Aiyuk for his entire career up until 2023. Slowik worked specifically in the passing game for the past two seasons under Kyle Shanahan.
The transition from Shanahan’s offense to Slowik’s likely wouldn’t be too different and would give Aiyuk a shorter turnaround time for acclimating to the team.
Con: Hefty extension expected
This trade doesn’t happen unless the Texans are willing to shell out some cash for Aiyuk. And that could be a huge deal. Aiyuk caught the 11th-most receiving yards and the ninth-most touchdowns in the NFL over the past two seasons among wide receivers. That production warrants a sizable extension.
What would a possible Aiyuk deal look like? The 49ers gave Aiyuk’s teammate, Deebo Samuel, a three-yer, $71.5 million deal in 2022 for a average annual salary of $23.85 million. Six other receivers signed new contracts worth as much as $30 million annually (Hill) and as low as $24 million (Seattle Seahawk’s D.K. Metcalf).
That’s the expected range for Aiyuk.
Pro: Age
Aiyuk is in his prime. He’ll be 26 this year and is one of the young ascending pass-catchers in the NFL. That’s the age when paying for a wideout makes sense. A four-year deal would cover Aiyuk’s hypothetical best seasons.
He’d also be the oldest player in Texans’ receiver room, unless Houston brings in more veterans like they did this past year. Collins and Dell both entering their 25-year-old season and John Metchie III will be 24.
Verdit
If the price is right, this is a no-brainer for Houston. There is a lot of uncertainty in the draft if the Texans want to go wideout with the No. 23 pick, but packaging that selection for Aiyuk would immediately upgrade the offense.
He’s young, productive and familiar-enough with the offensive scheme. An Aiyuk infusion would give Houston one of the best trio of pass-catchers in the league and provide Stroud with a stable of quality and reliable playmakers for the Texans to defend the AFC South title.
Verdict: Make the move
