The San Francisco 49ers may have the NFL’s most talented roster, but right now, they’re facing a little uncertainty about what that roster will look like moving forward.
Star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has been holding out of offseason workouts while looking for a lucrative contract extension, and reportedly, both sides are still apart on negotiations.
Many believe that if they’re unable to come to an agreement soon enough, he could end up getting traded before the new season starts.
On the other hand, if Aiyuk does get an extension from the 49ers, it may necessitate them trading fellow wideout Deebo Samuel not too long from now.
But one thing is for use: the two make up an excellent duo, and a tweet from Pro Football Focus revealed how well they ran routes this past season.
Brandon Aiyuk: The highest-graded WR on out and post routes in 2023
Deebo Samuel: The highest-graded WR on in routes in 2023
Good luck trying to stop this duo 👀 pic.twitter.com/3cGJA7TuiY
— PFF (@PFF) June 13, 2024
Aiyuk isn’t the fastest receiver around, but he was graded as the best on out routes in 2023, as well as on post routes.
Samuel likes to operate in front of opposing teams’ secondaries and mostly makes plays on short-to-intermediate receptions, and he was ranked first on such routes.
In 2023, Aiyuk had his best season yet with 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns, while Samuel chipped in 892 receiving yards, seven receiving touchdowns, and five rushing touchdowns.
Samuel’s ability to line up in the backfield as a makeshift running back is what makes him truly unique.
After two losses in the Super Bowl over the last five years, both have to be extremely motivated to win their first Vince Lombardi Trophy.
