The perplexing tensions brewing between the San Francisco 49ers and star wideout Brandon Aiyuk are reaching a point that can only be described as irreparable.
The 27-year-old may never play a snap for the 49ers after signing a four-year contract extension with the team just last summer. If matters truly reach that point, general manager John Lynch could be in the market for another top-flight wideout in the draft this spring.
Missouri WR Finding Himself on 49ers’ Radar
Lynch may not find himself landing in the upper echelon of some of the best receivers in the 2026 class, but Kevin Coleman Jr. could be a diamond in the rough for the 49ers. He is, however, perceived as one of the best slot receivers in the draft.
That area of mastery could be a significant benefit in the intermediate region of the field for quarterback Brock Purdy, assuming he’s still under center for the 49ers next season.
Coleman, who is currently playing in his final year of college eligibility, has entered the transfer portal three times. In four years of collegiate play, he has played for four different schools, starting with Jackson State as a freshman in 2022.
Under head coach Deion Sanders, Coleman recorded 33 receptions for 510 yards and three touchdowns. He was second on the team in receiving yardage behind fellow wideout Dallas Daniels.
Coleman transferred to Louisville for his sophomore year, then to Mississippi State for his junior year, and then to Missouri, where he’s currently the Tigers’ leading pass catcher. Through 11 games this season, Coleman has logged 63 catches for 715 yards and just one touchdown. His yardage more than doubles Donovan Olugbode’s 352.
In total, Coleman has accumulated 2,519 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns throughout his college career.
Those aren’t astronomical numbers by any means across four years, but that doesn’t mean his skill set won’t translate into an often efficient offense in San Francisco led by head coach Kyle Shanahan. In PFSN’s three-round mock draft, Coleman is projected to land with the 49ers as a third-round pick at No. 87 overall.
Brandon Aiyuk’s Dilemma Could Be Reaching Boiling Point
Just two months after signing the deal mentioned above, which tied Aiyuk’s future to the 49ers, he tore his ACL and MCL in a game against the Kansas City Chiefs. The injuries ended his season and raised questions about his availability for 2025, but Aiyuk’s status with the team has far transcended his health.
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On Friday, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported that Aiyuk and the 49ers were headed toward what could only be described as a messy divorce. The amplified tension has resulted from Aiyuk’s complete distancing from the team, including his failure to attend meetings and opt out of team activities.
As the regular season has worn on, the 49ers have been anticipating Aiyuk’s return to the field. But he remains on the physically unable to perform list and has yet to make his season debut.
Of course, with over a month of football remaining, Aiyuk could return to practice at any time and open his 21-day window where the 49ers will have to activate him to their 53-man roster. At this point, it’s a matter of whether or not he even wants to.
Even without Aiyuk’s services, the 49ers are sitting at 7-4 and still in contention to win the NFC West. If he’s able to return, he’d be a significant boost to an offense that already ranks eighth in the league by PFSN’s Offense Impact metric.
