Brandon Aiyuk would make sense as an offseason trade target for the Bears

The Chicago Bears made an in-season trade for wide receiver Chase Claypool, who, despite his slow start with the Bears since joining the team on Nov. 1, will have a critical role in Chicago's passing game next season. And, he'd better. The Bears traded their 2023 second-round pick for him, which is tracking to be No. 34 overall.

But just because GM Ryan Poles made one big trade for a wide receiver doesn't mean he can't make another. And if the goal of the 2023 offseason is to build offensive firepower around QB Justin Fields, leveraging assets for another wideout makes sense.

The 2022 offseason was highlighted by wide receivers who demanded new contracts on the eve of their fourth seasons in the league. Deebo Samuel, D.K. Metcalf, and A.J. Brown got paid after requesting new deals. Brown ended up getting traded from the Tennessee Titans to the Philadelphia Eagles in a move that appears to be the final piece the Eagles needed for a Super Bowl run.

The contract numbers were massive. Samuel signed a three-year, $71.5 million deal. Metcalf inked a three-year, $72 million contract. And Brown was rewarded by the Eagles with a four-year, $100 million deal.

Big money for big-time playmakers.

Ryan Poles should target 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk in offseason trade

The good news for the Bears is they have money to spend and draft picks to trade on a playmaker this offseason, although there won't be one on the level of Samuel, Metcalf, or Brown who's available. But the money and picks are there, as is a player who'd be a boon to a Chicago passing game searching for an all-around weapon.

Former San Francisco 49ers first-round pick, Brandon Aiyuk, is enjoying a career year in 2022. And much like last year's group of highly-paid wideouts, Aiyuk will enter this offseason with three seasons of experience and one year left on his rookie contract. The 49ers could exercise their fifth-year option and keep Ayiuk in the Bay area through 2024, but that doesn't change whether he'd be available for trade.

Aiyuk's production over his first three seasons should keep his market value below the top-tier pricing of Samuel, Metcalf, and Brown, but he'll still be a pricey pass-catcher. His next contract will be north of $20 million per season, and the 49ers probably won't trade him for less than a second-round pick.

The Bears have the cap space to pay Aiyuk a contract that meets those demands, and they still have the Baltimore Ravens' second-round pick as ammunition for a trade. There's at least a chance the stars can align for a deal.

Remember: The 49ers are already paying Samuel top-of-the-market wideout money. While it's possible they'll be willing to pay two receivers, it's more likely they'll look to recoup some draft picks after recent trades to move up in the 2021 NFL draft for Trey Lance and the 2022 in-season trade for Christian McCaffrey.

Brandon Aiyuk has blend of traits Bears' passing game is missing

Aiyuk, 24, has been a consistent playmaker for the 49ers this season. He's been the team's most productive pure wide receiver. With Samuel expected to miss the rest of the year with a high-ankle sprain, Aiyuk will be the undisputed WR1.

This guy Brock is Purdy good.

Brandon Aiyuk hit ‘em with the double move for Purdy’s third TD of the half.

@NFL | @49ers pic.twitter.com/ckV3Ab4cLk

— The Athletic NFL (@TheAthleticNFL) December 11, 2022

This guy Brock is Purdy good.

Brandon Aiyuk hit ‘em with the double move for Purdy’s third TD of the half.

@NFL | @49ers pic.twitter.com/ckV3Ab4cLk

— The Athletic NFL (@TheAthleticNFL) December 11, 2022

Brandon Aiyuk is a savvy route-runner with exceptional after-the-catch ability who'd blend the best aspects of Darnell Mooney and Claypool's games into one target. He can flip the field after a short reception and put defensive backs in a blender on a deep route.

Here's a compilation video of some of his routes over the years that was shared on Twitter.

Just blessing the timeline with some of Brandon Aiyuk’s filthy routes over the years #49ers pic.twitter.com/XFtQyaSMLO

— Coach Yac (@Coach_Yac) December 10, 2022

Just blessing the timeline with some of Brandon Aiyuk’s filthy routes over the years #49ers pic.twitter.com/XFtQyaSMLO

— Coach Yac (@Coach_Yac) December 10, 2022

Filthy stuff. It's fun imagining the level of production Aiyuk would enjoy catching passes from Justin Fields, whose ability to keep plays alive for an extra second would turn Aiyuk from a very good player into an elite stat producer.

Aiyuk currently has 58 catches for 755 yards and seven touchdowns. His touchdown total is already a career-high, and he's just 71 yards away from setting a new career-best in receiving yards. He should end the year with over 1,000 receiving yards and could reach double-digit touchdowns.

Aiyuk has 174 catches for 2,329 yards and 17 scores for his career.

Photo by Michael Reaves-Getty Images

Bears can't stop adding offensive firepower around Justin Fields

The argument against trading for a player like Aiyuk, one who will require a massive new contract, is that the Chicago Bears have two receivers in the same situation: Mooney and Claypool are both finishing their third seasons in the league, and a decision about their futures must be made and made soon. What was the point in trading for Claypool if he can walk away from Chicago after the 2023 season? Will the Bears invest in two top-dollar contracts at wide receiver?

It feels like Poles won't have much of a choice. The NFL demands more than one big-time weapon on offense now, and if Chicago can field a wide receiver duo that features the likes of Claypool and Aiyuk (and maybe Mooney, too), Fields' upside with a crew of pass-catchers like that will be truly limitless.

Brandon Aiyuk's production over the final month of the 2022 season should push his name to the front of players viewed as big-money wideouts searching for new deals this offseason, which means the chatter about his future in San Francisco will begin. And when it does, Poles and the Chicago Bears have must get into the bidding war.