How the 49ers Can Sell a Brandon Aiyuk Trade to their Fans

As long as the 49ers run the ball as much as they do and spread the ball around in the passing game, Aiyuk never will reach his full potential.

The 49ers absolutely can create more than enough salary cap space to extend Brandon Aiyuk's contract, but they might decide to trade him instead. Here's why.

First, while they can afford Aiyuk's extension, they may not be able to justify the cost if they don't start throwing to him much more frequently than they have so far in his career. Aiyuk's extension most likely will cost the 49ers more than $25 million per season, and he caught just three passes in each of the 49ers' three playoff games this season. They didn't give him a chance to take over.

As long as the 49ers run the ball as much as they do and spread the ball around in the passing game, Aiyuk never will reach his full potential as he would on another team that would commit to throwing him at least nine or 10 passes every game.

Second, wide receivers are relatively easy to replace -- see the Chiefs. who traded Tyreek Hill to the Dolphins and then won back to back Super Bowls. The Chiefs are the gold standard in the NFL, and they don't spend big money on wide receivers or running backs. They spend on offensive linemen.

The 49ers could follow the Chiefs lead, trade Aiyuk for a high first-round pick and then draft an offensive tackle, someone who could start right away on the right side and potentially move over the left when Trent Williams retires. Then, the 49ers could use their own first-round pick to replace Aiyuk.

Not saying this is the right thing to do. But if the 49ers trade Aiyuk, this will be the reasoning.