49ers GM John Lynch sends clear message to any team still pondering trade for Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel

The 2024 NFL Draft passed without a trade of either of the San Francisco 49ers' two All-Pro receivers. Conventional wisdom said that, if draft weekend passed without a trade of Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel, then both would remain with the team for the 2024 season. And Niners general manager John Lynch made it clear […]

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Sep 10, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel (19) congratulates San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) for catching a touchdown pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first half at Acrisure Stadium.

The 2024 NFL Draft passed without a trade of either of the San Francisco 49ers' two All-Pro receivers.

Conventional wisdom said that, if draft weekend passed without a trade of Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel, then both would remain with the team for the 2024 season.

And Niners general manager John Lynch made it clear for any teams still thinking about testing San Francisco's resolve that he and the organization are not focused on the prospect of dealing either receiver ahead of the new campaign.

Both Aiyuk and Samuel were the subject of trade talk around draft week with the latter at one point reported as "likely" to be traded by Mike Silver of The San Francisco Chronicle.

The 49ers stoked the flames of speculation they could move on from one of their top wideouts by drafting Ricky Pearsall 31st overall in the first round of the 2024 draft. They doubled up at the position by taking Jacob Cowing in the fourth round.

But asked about discussions over trades, Lynch told 'The Pat McAfee Show': "Well, I love our roster. I love the way it's comprised. As I said, we were right there and we got to find a way to get just a little bit better. I'm doing everything in my power to keep our roster together. That's my goal. I don't question that. When you talk about guys like Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel, they're guys we drafted, they're guys we take a lot of pride in what and who they've become and we couldn't be more proud of those guys.

"So over the course of drafts and offseasons, do conversations happen? Absolutely, they do. We're past that now, and we're thrilled to add to that group. Jauan Jennings, Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, Chris Conley, Ronnie Bell, Danny Gray, and now you add Ricky Pearsall and Jake Cowing. I think we made an already-strong group even stronger. Part of my job is to think about the now and to think into the future as well. But we don't do that without thinking, 'Can these guys contribute right away?'

"And we have a vision for both those guys and how they can contribute. They represent a lot of the qualities that we like in our players. They were the best players for us at the time. We're thrilled to add those guys to an already strong room, and we're ready to roll forward. We're fired up about our team."

The message for any receiver-needy team is clear, you'll need to look elsewhere. There may have been a window of opportunity when one of Aiyuk or Samuel could have been had for the right price, but it's gone now, with the 49ers' focus turning to how they can put those players in the best position to deliver a Super Bowl title in 2024.