Are the 49ers Still NFC Betting Favorites if Brandon Aiyuk Gets Traded?

Unless you're on an extended Himalayan retreat to become a shaman, you're aware of the Brandon Aiyuk trade rumors. 

The San Francisco 49ers aren't willing to open their pocketbook and pay whatever it takes (probably around $30 million per year) to keep their All-Pro wide receiver, and Aiyuk isn't amenable to accepting a lesser contract extension.

That's created a Golden Gate Bridge-size impasse between Aiyuk and the 49ers, who enter the preseason with the second-shortest Super Bowl odds to win their first Lombardi Trophy since 1995 - a 29-year wait that ranks among the longest Super Bowl droughts.  

So, if Aiyuk is dealt to one of his potential suitors like the Pittsburgh Steelers or Cleveland Browns, how will it impact the 49ers' Super Bowl odds? 

How will trading Brandon Aiyuk impact 49ers Super Bowl odds?

Aiyuk's departure from the Bay Area appears more likely every day. Just ask Christian McCaffrey, who already considers Aiyuk a "former teammate."

The 49ers are trading between +500 and +625 across our best sports betting sites, implying a winning probability ranging from 13.79% to 16.67%.

Even if Aiyuk gets dealt, I can't see the 49ers' Super Bowl odds taking a drastic hit. While their odds might move marginally, they should retain their second-shortest odds behind the Super Bowl favorite Kanas City Chiefs. 

We're not talking about a team that relies solely on Aiyuk's production; far from it.

While Aiyuk enjoyed a career-best 75 catches for 1,342 yards and seven TDs last year, he represents just one of Brock Purdy's arsenal of lethal weapons that includes do-it-all receiver Deebo Samuel, defending Offensive Player of the Year (OPOY) and 2024 OPOY odds favorite McCaffrey, and dangerous tight end George Kittle. 

Aiyuk's departure wouldn't leave Purdy devoid of explosive and talented options, but it will invariably weaken the 49ers, lessening their chances of winning an already elusive Super Bowl.  

49ers preseason betting odds 2024

Bet $1, Get 10x 100% Profit Boosts

New users only. Must use promo code. Min. $10 deposit. Max. additional winnings $2.5K per token. Tokens expire in 14 days. Void where prohibited. Full terms.

Claim Boosts

Each product featured on our website has been meticulously researched and selected by our team of experts. If you sign up through our links, we may get a commission. 21+. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly

Are 49ers still NFC betting favorites if Aiyuk is traded?

While the 49ers will probably remain ahead of the Detroit Lions in the NFC betting odds regardless of Aiyuk's fate, losing him should alter sports bettors' perception of Kyle Shanahan's team. 

San Francisco went down a similar pothole-covered road last preseason with then-holdout Nick Bosa, who eventually got the deal he was looking for as the highest-paid non-quarterback at the time. 

I'm certainly not comparing what Bosa and Aiyuk bring to the table, as the former is one of the Defensive Player of the Year odds favorites and arguably the league's most important defensive player.

I am, however, referring to the 49ers' tendency of not forking out for integral players. The team is smack-dab in the middle, if not the tail end, of a win-now era.

To win the Super Bowl, you must go all-in, ensuring you retain difference-makers no matter the cost. That's especially true while only having to pay Purdy an entry-level salary of $985,000 for this upcoming season.

Yes, Purdy is due for a behemoth pay raise, but that won't hurt the 49ers' coffers too significantly until the 2026 season, when he could command an annual salary of more than $50 million. He'll be under contract for $1.1 million in the final year of his rookie deal next season.

Trent Williams, also currently holding out, is another example of San Francisco's inherent hesitation to ante up, bringing up another topical matter of how to bet on the 49ers amid contract disputes.

Chemistry can't be bought or traded for

Aiyuk and Purdy developed an explosive and effective chemistry in 2023 that the most astute scientists would be proud of. That takes time, effort, and a combined, almost telepathic, understanding. You won't immediately get that with any new addition or those in line to "replace" Aiyuk - the likes of Ricky Pearsall, Jauan Jennings, or Chris Conley. 

There's also the pungent smell of desperation emitted from trying to offload one of your marquee players less than a month before the season starts. The 49ers will find it almost impossible to land a player of Aiyuk's elite caliber in any 12th-hour trade. 

And with the 49ers entrenched in a win-now mindset, they cannot accept draft picks or future considerations as the core return in a deal. Amari Cooper represents the best like-for-like possibility, but there's a long way to go before the 49ers and Browns come to an accord.

If the 49ers are in a win-now scenario, they must pull out all the stops to keep Aiyuk on the payroll. If they don't, the Lions can quickly become the apex predator and true king of the jungle, usurping the 49ers as the best bet to represent the NFC in Super Bowl 59.

Of course, the 49ers won't want to keep a player who has no business staying put. But money changes many things, particularly for a receiver whose desire to win the Super Bowl is only superseded by landing a gargantuan contract that he unequivocally feels he deserves.  

Here are our best Super Bowl betting sites:

• Caesars Promo Code: SBRBONUSDYW | Read our Caesars Review
• BetMGM Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our BetMGM Review
• bet365 Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our bet365 Review
• FanDuel Promo Code | Read our FanDuel Review
• DraftKings Promo Code | Read our DraftKings Review

(21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)
* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.

Not intended for use in MA.
Each betting site featured on SBR has been meticulously researched and selected by our team of experts. If you sign up through our links, we may get a commission.

Related pages

• Best Sports Betting Sites | Best Sportsbook Promos (U.S. only)