Tag: Trade Rumors

Could Texans trade preseason breakout star WR John Metchie III?

After an impressive training camp, could the Houston Texans trade John Metchie III while his value is at an all-time high?

Could John Metchie III be on the move before Week 1?

Based on one report, it’s not off the table heading into Tuesday’s roster cutdown deadline.

According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Houston Texans have been contacted by “multiple teams” regarding the availability of the third-year wide receiver. The Texans are loaded at the position and could afford to free up space by trading one of their top backups.

Schultz did note that it’s “unclear” if the Texans would be willing to trade Metchie, although several opposing front offices are keeping a “close eye” on the former second-round pick.

An asking price wasn’t mentioned, but it’s safe to assume given Metchie’s unproven upside in the regular season, he’d likely go for a Day 3 pick. Could it be more? If so, that’s a deal the Texans would at least have to mull over given the long-term status of several other positions.

Metchie was drafted by the Texans out of Alabama in 2022, but missed his entire rookie season after being diagnosed with leukemia during summer workouts. He returned in 2023, hauling in 16 passes for 158 yards.

Perhaps the Metchie’s highlight moment came in the 45-14 wild-card round victory over the Cleveland Browns. Totaling three catches for 36 yards, Metchie helped the Texans inch deep into Browns’ territory with a 27-yard grab-and-go from C.J. Stroud in the second quarter.

He picked back up where he left off in the preseason. Metchie had been a standout in practice with both Stroud and Davis Mills in the passing game. In Week 2’s 28-10 win over the New York Giants, he finished with a team-leading six catches for 68 yards and a touchdown.

Everyone in the locker room loves Metchie. As much as he offers upside on the field, he provides the same value in the huddle. Players couldn’t wait to celebrate with the former Crimson Tide after he scored his first NFL touchdown on a 4-yard pass from Case Keenum.

“It’s exciting to see Metchie make those types of plays,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Nobody is more fired up than his teammates to see the other receivers and see their genuine excitement when he makes those plays. The entire team, as a whole, is pulling for him to do well. And he did a really nice job today.”

Metchie could struggle to stand out in a loaded receiver room for the impending season. Nico Collins signed a three-year extension this offseason after racking up a team-high 1,297 yards off 80 catches.

Rookie sensation Tank Dell is back after his promising 2023 season ended in Week 13 due to a fractured fibula.

The Texans also brought in four-time Pro Bowl target Stefon Diggs from Buffalo to raise the skillset for reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud. He’s going to start after leading the NFL in receptions over the past four years with Buffalo.

For Houston, the question turns to Metchie’s future. Diggs is only on a one-year deal after the franchise voids the last three years of his contract. If he exceeds expectations, he’ll command top dollar on the market, thus forcing his way out of Houston’s price range.

The Texans also have to assume Metchie is the No. 4 receiver if they elect to cease all trade talks. Right now, that part feels logical since he finished the preseason with 10 catches for 100 yards and a score.

Where does Noah Brown fit in the equation?

Where does Robert Woods factor in if he makes the active roster?

Also, do the Texans expect Metchie to remain the same player once the regular season rolls around? If not, why not trade him when the value has reached its peak?

The Texans would feel content about their receiver room if they moved on from Metchie, but it would have to be for the right price. Until that happens, expect Metchie to remain in Houston as the team prepares for Indianapolis.

49ers renew effort to sign All-Pro WR to long-term contract

After multiple trade rumors, the 49ers are reportedly renewing efforts to sign their star pass catcher to a long-term contract.

While all signs pointed toward a potential trade, there’s been another twist in the Brandon Aiyuk saga with the San Francisco 49ers. After reports surfaced earlier in the week, about the framework of trades being in place with multiple teams for Aiyuk, momentum could be swinging back in favor of the 49ers.

According to Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, the 49ers have made a “renewed” effort in recent days to sign Aiyuk to a long-term deal. Pelissero and Garafolo reported the situation is “fluid,” with other teams interested in trading for Aiyuk still in the mix.

Via @TomPelissero on Twitter:

Since the minutes after the Super Bowl went final, there has been constant questions, chatter and rumors regarding Aiyuk’s future with the 49ers. The former first-round pick out of Arizona State is seeking a new massive contract as he enters the final year of his rookie deal with the 49ers. The 49ers have yet to budge as Aiyuk has been “holding in” at training camp.

With the preseason opener approaching and the start of the regular season looming, there have been links to multiple trades with the New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers being potential partners.

Although the saga has been stretched out, the ideal solution would be for Aiyuk to land a new contract with the 49ers. Aiyuk is coming off an All-Pro season, recording a career-best 1342 yards receiving with seven touchdowns.

Stay tuned at Niners Wire for all the latest updates regarding Aiyuk’s situation with the 49ers.

This post originally appeared on Niners Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

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Warriors have the trade assets to acquire Paul George

Mike Dunleavy Jr. believes the Golden State Warriors have enough assets to land a star-level player via trade.

The Golden State Warriors are rumored to be interested in Paul George. The veteran forward is expected to opt out of his player option for the upcoming season and enter unrestricted free agency. The LA Clippers are undoubtedly keen on re-signing him. However, the Warriors and Philadelphia 76ers are both rumored alternatives, should George want a fresh start.

During a recent appearance on “The TK Show,” Mike Dunleavy Jr. admitted that Golden State has the necessary trade assets to secure Paul George if he becomes available.  He stopped short of admitting the Warriors’ interest in George but did not think the Warriors were positioned to make a big trade if the opportunity arose.

“I think it’s possible because we have the assets to do so,” Dunleavy said. “When you look at our roster, you look at our picks, you look at all the things we have, we certainly have an attractive organization with a competitive ownership group, great coach, desirable players to play with. All those things that we have lends itself to believing that we’re capable of a big move if that’s on the table or available. The hardest part of that is not that many guys that are available you feel are worthy of giving up all that.”

George has struggled for fitness during his tenure with the Clippers. As such, Golden State should tread carefully before deciding whether to pursue the All-Star forward. Nevertheless, it’s clear that he would provide star-level production on the wing and could potentially catapult the Warriors back into contention.

The Warriors are expected to be active in retooling their roster this summer. However, it’s unclear whether George is truly part of their plans or whether their name being floated is nothing more than a rumor.

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49ers have good track record with extending players like Brandon Aiyuk

Freaking out about Brandon Aiyuk not having a contract yet? Good news! We’ve been here before:

The 49ers’ way of doing business might be a bit anxiety-inducing for fans. As other wide receivers have signed big contracts this offseason, San Francisco has calmly acted upon their usual soft deadline of training camp. They’ve operated this way throughout the Kyle Shanahan-John Lynch era, and as of mid-June there’s no real reason to believe the Brandon Aiyuk contract situation is any different.

San Francisco has gotten high-priced, long-term extensions done with wide receiver Deebo Samuel, tight end George Kittle, linebacker Fred Warner and defensive end Nick Bosa over the last few offseasons. There are other big contracts in there, but these are the team’s drafted players who have earned sizable deals at or near the top of the market for their second contract.

Kittle’s extension was first reported on August 13, 2020. Warner got his big deal the following year, and that was first reported July 21. Reports of Samuel’s deal in the 2022 offseason came down July 31. Bosa is the outlier because he held out until the week the regular season kicked off in early September, but nevertheless he got a contract that at the time made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.

It’s easy to point to recent reports of Aiyuk’s pessimism, or that the 49ers aren’t indicating that they’ll rescind fines for missed practices and surmise that there’s something extraordinary going on with these particular negotiations. Never mind that Samuel outright requested a trade and while the Jets were on the clock with the No. 10 pick in the 2022 draft there was real speculation that the pick would be dealt to the 49ers in exchange for the All-Pro wide receiver. Alas, the fever broke and Samuel eventually got his deal.

One outlier here is that the other WRs who would be setting the market have almost all done their contracts already. Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle, Eagles WRs DeVonta Smith and AJ Brown, and Vikings WR Justin Jefferson have all gotten their proverbial bags. Aiyuk and CeeDee Lamb, both first-round picks in 2020 and entering the final year of their rookie contracts, are the only two big-time receivers left without extensions.

Perhaps there’s some kind of waiting game with that duo to see which of them sets the market below Jefferson, who earned a four-year deal worth up to $140 with $110 million guaranteed from Minnesota in early June.

The more likely scenario is that the 49ers are following their typical path where they don’t feel any urgency in mid-June while players are away from the team with nothing substantial happening on the NFL calendar until late July when training camp begins.

Bosa last season was an outlier because his deal was a little more complicated given the scale of the contract. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year received a five-year, $170 million contract with $122.5 million guaranteed. It was the largest non-QB contract ever, and thus might have required more back-and-forth.

With Aiyuk things are a little less sticky. There’s a very clear range he should be landing with lots of contracts from comparable players to go off of. And it’s hard to believe the 49ers weren’t anticipating that level of contract when they chose not to trade the All-Pro WR during the draft.

There’s certainly still some negotiating to do, and it may get more publicly volatile in the weeks leading up to training camp. That’s not out of the ordinary for the 49ers though and the delay with Aiyuk is the same delay every other player who got a big extension from the team had to endure.

Perhaps Aiyuk or the 49ers are being wholly unrealistic and we see a rare case where San Francisco botches an extension on a budding star player. Until that happens though their track record remains far stronger than not in this area, and that’s an important thing to remember as the negotiations continue to unfold.

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49ers did due diligence, called Vikings about Justin Jefferson trade

The 49ers called the Vikings about a Justin Jefferson trade. Here’s why that matters:

The 49ers aren’t lying when they say they’re always looking to do anything they can to make their team better. That’s why it isn’t a huge surprise to find out they were one of several teams that reached out to the Minnesota Vikings about trading for wide receiver Justin Jefferson in the midst of his contract negotiations.

Adam Schefter on his podcast mentioned San Francisco as one of a slew of teams that got on the phone with the Vikings during the draft to inquire about Jefferson’s availability.

“Some teams reached out,” Schefter said. “The New York Jets reached out about Justin Jefferson. The Indianapolis Colts reached out about Justin Jefferson. You know that? The 49ers reached out about Justin Jefferson. You know that?”

Any overtures were swiftly denied by the Vikings according to Schefter. It’s not clear what the 49ers were willing to offer for Jefferson since the Vikings never let talks get that far.

When there’s even a hint of an elite player like Jefferson being available it’s every general manager’s job to get on the phone and call that player’s team. It’s the due diligence we hear about so often from front offices.

Perhaps there was some hang-up in negotiations and the Vikings are willing to move him for a couple of first-round picks. While it’s unlikely, teams won’t know until they make a phone call.

This is instructive when it comes to the 49ers’ conversations before and during the draft about wide receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel. Fielding those calls and trying to squeeze a fleecing out of another team in an effort to make the team better is part of the deal when it comes to team-building. There’s not a desire to get rid of the players, but rather a desire to ensure all bases are covered when going through an offseason.

It also tells us the 49ers are ready to give another wide receiver a big deal. Jefferson wound up getting a contract with more than $88 million guaranteed across four seasons. It reset the market and San Francisco was trying to find out if that player was available. Aiyuk’s contract will come in under what Jefferson got, which provides optimism that there’s room for an Aiyuk deal at some point this offseason.

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It makes zero sense for 49ers to trade one of their top 2 WRs

There are still Brandon Aiyuk/Deebo Samuel trade rumors. It doesn’t make sense.

The 49ers wide receiver trade rumors started leading up to the 2024 NFL draft. They could have stopped after the draft when San Francisco dealt neither Brandon Aiyuk nor Deebo Samuel. Alas, they persist because content rules above logic.

Let’s try and iron this out.

It would not make sense for the 49ers to move on from either Samuel or Aiyuk at this juncture or at any other point this season given what would realistically be available on the trade market.

Typically one of these trade rumors revolves around the 49ers’ financial situation and their ability to pay their WRs. They’re already more than $25 million under this year’s salary cap with both Aiyuk and Samuel on the books. This aspect will matter a ton next offseason and perhaps this year while the 49ers are trying to iron out an extension with Aiyuk.

It’s important to note though that Aiyuk is still under contract for the 2024 season. He’ll likely not want to play on his fifth-year option, but he’s less likely to want to sit out a year and run into this problem again next offseason because he didn’t accrue his fifth season. If he and the 49ers can’t come to an agreement on a deal, they’re more likely to call his bluff on not playing than to give him away.

There’s an underlying key to everything when it comes to the trade rumors with the 49ers WRs though.

San Francisco is trying to win the Super Bowl. Their window is shutting rapidly, and it’s unclear how if/when it will be thrown back open by a new, younger core.

The 2024 season marks perhaps the final time this older core of 49ers will get a chance to try for a Lombardi Trophy together. There is urgency in winning now. There is not urgency in maximizing the return for Aiyuk if he winds up leaving.

Chances are the 49ers would rather have Aiyuk this year and get a compensatory third-round pick for him in the 2026 draft instead of moving him for an asset that won’t get them closer to the Super Bowl in 2024.

The same goes for Samuel, who may be on his way out next offseason as the team tries to maneuver under the 2025 salary cap. They’re currently more than $41 million over according to Over the Cap.

Trading Samuel this year not only makes the 49ers’ offense dramatically worse, but it thrusts either Jauan Jennings into a bigger role or puts rookie first-round pick Ricky Pearsall into an extremely important spot right away. That’s not something San Francisco is likely aiming to do in 2024.

It’s clear some kind of major shakeup is coming in the 49ers WR room. The turbulence leading up to and during the draft made it appear those moves were on the horizon, but when nothing materialized during the draft it became clear the most logical course of action for San Francisco would be to keep its receiving corps together for 2024 to try and win the Super Bowl.

Anything beyond that will be taken care of next year.

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Finally, a hypothetical Brandon Aiyuk trade that makes some sense

If (IF) the 49ers trade Brandon Aiyuk, this is the type of seismic deal to expect:

Hypothetical Brandon Aiyuk trades have been one of the topics du jour this NFL draft season. Much of the trade chatter around the 49ers’ star wide receiver has been publicly refuted by Aiyuk’s agent, but that hasn’t stopped some wild potential trades from being thrown about on the internet.

For the most part the fake Aiyuk trades haven’t been grounded in reality. The 49ers don’t want to move Aiyuk and there’s no reason at press time to believe he’s going to want a contract beyond what the 49ers will be willing to stomach. Still, most trades have been structured as though San Francisco is just looking to punt on the Second-Team All-Pro. Thankfully, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell in his mock draft that features trades at every pick actually proposed the type of trade we might see if Aiyuk does get moved.

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It’s worth noting the 49ers would have suitors for Aiyuk if they made him available. The chances they’d acquiesce to a trade that landed them anything less than a first-round pick in this year’s draft seem slim. That’s why Barnwell’s proposed trade works. He has San Francisco sending Aiyuk and pick Nos. 31 and 94 in this year’s draft to the Los Angeles Chargers for pick Nos. 5 and 181 this year.

To be clear, Barnwell isn’t reporting this deal. However, if we see Aiyuk dealt on Draft Night, it’ll likely be in a deal of this magnitude. It’ll be one that moves the needle pretty significantly. There’s unlikely to be a trade that features the 49ers receiving a second-round pick and a couple of other later selections.

At the fifth overall pick San Francisco would have a strong foundation to either get Aiyuk’s replacement with whichever of Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers or Rome Odunze is available and atop their board. They’d also likely have their pick of offensive tackles at No. 5 overall. If they could snag a player like Notre Dame OT Joe Alt it’s hard to envision a scenario where they don’t come out of Day 1 of the draft as a pretty big winner.

Then they’d have an opportunity on Day 2 to either get aggressive in Round 2 and move up, or trade down into the third and pick up some additional capital later on Day 2 or in Day 3.

Our official stance is that we don’t believe Aiyuk will be dealt. This is a fascinating scenario though and the 49ers would have to put themselves in that kind of top-five position to even begin justifying shipping out a rising young superstar.

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Brandon Aiyuk’s camp publicly refutes another trade rumor

Another Brandon Aiyuk trade rumor shot down by Aiyuk’s agent.

Another Brandon Aiyuk trade rumor has been publicly denied by the wide receiver’s agent. After an author at a website that covers the Pittsburgh Steelers reported that a person inside the Steelers building would be shocked if the team didn’t trade for Aiyuk, Aiyuk’s agent Ryan Williams took to the internet to dispute the report.

“Another ‘report’ that couldn’t be more incorrect,” Williams wrote on Twitter. “Fictional ‘journalism’ should really stop.”

It’s interesting that Williams is coming out publicly and doing this. Another random Twitter user ‘reported’ that an Aiyuk trade was in the works and Williams shot that one down too.

Perhaps he’s just looking out for his client. Maybe he’s just really anti-false reporting. Conventional wisdom says trade rumors muddying the waters might help a player in negotiations. Granted, a team knows what clubs are and are not calling so it’s hard to imagine San Francisco getting scared off by a rumor involving them.

Still, this may be a matter of the 49ers and Aiyuk’s camp being on good terms heading into negotiations on a long-term extension. Aiyuk is entering the fifth and final year of his rookie contract in 2024.

Trade rumors swirling may be perceived by the 49ers as Aiyuk’s camp trying to leak information to help them in those negotiations. By publicly denying the rumors Williams removes himself from being the possible culprit behind the reports.

Ultimately for 49ers fans worried Aiyuk may get dealt, seeing his agent deny even flimsy report from smaller-profile reporters has to be good news.

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Brandon Aiyuk trade rumors from 49ers perspective

All of the reasons people want their favorite team to trade for Brandon Aiyuk are all of the reasons the #49ers have to keep him.

The Brandon Aiyuk trade conversation has gotten rolling as the dust settles on free agency and the NFL draft approaches. Since San Francisco would likely be aiming to move the WR by Draft Day, the discussions about team fits and potential trade partners will ramp up substantially.

Jacksonville has come up as a potential suitor after they lost Calvin Ridley in free agency. Pittsburgh has also become a popular hypothetical destination after Aiyuk fed trade speculation with a tweet to Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin on March 19. It was Aiyuk’s first tweet since April 30, 2023.

The trade talks aren’t unfounded or ridiculous. Aiyuk is entering the fifth and final year of his rookie contract, and it’s unlikely he’ll be willing to suit up without a long-term extension. San Francisco also doesn’t have a ton of wiggle room under the cap this year. There are ways they can structure the contract to make it more affordable in 2024 than his $14.2 million fifth-year option. More on this in a bit.

However, it’s not a slam dunk the 49ers get a deal done. They’ll have a value in mind and if Aiyuk’s camp wants something more than that number, then San Francisco will have to trade its No. 1 wide receiver.

To be clear, the 49ers don’t want to trade him. They’ve said as much publicly any time anyone with ears and a pulse is in the vicinity. All of the reasons pundits and writers and podcasters believe Aiyuk is a fit for one team are also reasons he’s a fit for the 49ers. He’s still just 26, has great hands, explosive athleticism and a dynamic route tree that makes him one of the toughest covers in the sport. Aiyuk has also become a dominant run blocker which will help his case with every offensive coach in the NFL.

This is why the 49ers will be working to ensure they’re locking up Aiyuk beyond the 2024 campaign. He’s their future on offense alongside quarterback Brock Purdy. Letting Aiyuk walk ensures a nearly bare offensive cupboard for their newly-minted franchise QB by the time 2026 rolls around. It’s hard to envision many scenarios where the 49ers are letting Aiyuk get out the door, particularly because finding players like him isn’t easy. The Titans jettisoning WR AJ Brown during the 2022 draft is instructive in this case. That’s a scenario the 49ers will want to avoid.

So, let’s get back to the money.

It’s easy to point to all of the high-dollar contracts of left tackle Trent Williams, tight end George Kittle, wide receiver Deebo Samuel and running back Christian McCaffrey and conclude the 49ers simply cannot pay another wide receiver. Giving Aiyuk $28 million per year means they’re giving their top two receivers nearly $52 million in average annual value. That’s a lot!

For this season though the deal could be structured in a way that actually saves the 49ers money against the cap this year. They could potentially cut Aiyuk’s $14.2 million cap hit in half to save money now while pushing his bigger cap hits into the future when the cap keeps climbing and some of the other sizable contracts come off their books.

There’s a harsh reality that comes with this though. That group of offensive weapons featuring Willams, Kittle, Samuel and McCaffrey may not be in the 49ers’ long-term plans. San Francisco has to start gearing up for the future where Aiyuk figures to be a major player for them entering his prime while Kittle, Samuel and McCaffrey all clear 30-years old and Williams pushes 40.

So as the trade rumors and speculation fly, and Aiyuk is lauded as a fit for teams because of his ability and age, the 49ers will be aiming to pay him for all of those exact same reasons. There’s a definite scenario where the two sides don’t come to a deal, but the 49ers will be bending over backward to try and ensure a key piece of their future is locked up long-term.

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Lions should have real interest in Eagles’ desire to trade EDGE Haason Reddick

Lions should have real interest in the Eagles’ desire to trade EDGE Haason Reddick, but there are complicating factors in making it happen

Last night’s Super Bowl officially ended the 2023 season. It’s time now for free agency and the draft, and loading up the Detroit Lions for another deep playoff run, hopefully one that culminates in playing in next year’s final game.

There’s another way to add impact talent to the roster: trades. And the Philadelphia Eagles have created an opportunity for the Lions to answer one of their biggest questions on defense.

The Eagles have given permission to edge rusher Haason Reddick to seek a trade. Reddick has hit double figures in sacks in each of the last four seasons, with 11 in 2023 after 16 in his fantastic 2022 campaign. The two-time Pro Bowler is one of the most consistent stand-up pass rushers in the league.

Yes, the Lions should have interest in trading for Reddick. But it’s not as simple as GM Brad Holmes calling up his Eagles counterpart, Howie Roseman, and snatching away a good starter for nothing.

First, there’s the matter of salary. Reddick is due $15.5 million in the final year of the three-year, $45 million contract he signed with the Eagles in 2022. There’s also a $1 million roster bonus due on March 15 that likely serves as an unofficial deadline for the Eagles to get a trade done.

The Lions can readily absorb the $15.5 million hit. But one of the reasons the Eagles are prepared to move on is because Reddick, who turns 30 in September, has already been angling for a deal similar to what Montez Sweat (Chicago Bears) and Rashan Gary (Green Bay Packers) have gotten recently. That’s in the range of $20 million to $24 million per year.

Making that kind of contract fit would be difficult for Detroit. Remember, the Lions have to pay (in no particular order) Amon-Ra St. Brown, Penei Sewell, Jared Goff and at least one of their starting guards a lot more money than they get now — all in the next six to 12 months.

Of course, the Lions could view Reddick as an expensive one-year rental, but that would figure to lower what Detroit would be willing to give up to acquire him. The Lions will not be the only bidder. Pay attention to the wording from the Eagles, too. They’ve given permission to Reddick to seek a trade. Read as: Reddick and his representation get to seek out the best deal they can find, and then the Eagles have to agree to it. Reddick wants to cash in before he turns 30 and before his decline in overall play starts to get more noticeable. He has never been a great run defender or tackler with the Eagles, Panthers or Cardinals, so keeping up the sacks and pressures is mandatory to his value.

The 11 sacks were great, and the manner in which Reddick gets them would perfectly fit into the Lions defense on the opposite side of Aidan Hutchinson. Detroit should definitely be interested in paying Reddick for the 11 sacks and the closing speed around the outside edge that the team sorely lacked in 2023. But they have to be careful not to expect the 16-sack season that Reddick posted in 2022, when he was named second-team All-Pro. That sure looks like an anomalous peak season.

That distinction might not seem important, but it certainly is for Reddick. This is most likely his last chance to get a big paycheck, and he’ll emphasize his peak. So will the Eagles in any trade discussion, and that’s the difference between (spitballing here) two Day 2 picks over the next two drafts or a second-round pick this year and a sixth-round pick swap in 2025. For a team like the Lions, who build so carefully in the draft, that’s a big deal.

I would expect Holmes and the Lions to be a leading contender to acquire Reddick. They should be, anyway. He’d make for a wonderful complement to Hutchinson and give the pass rush the dimension it sorely lacked from the likes of Charles Harris, Romeo Okwara and an injured James Houston in 2023. But the price will need to be right, and that’s something the Lions cannot control.