LAS VEGAS — Imagine if the answer to the Giants’ five-year search for an Odell Beckham Jr. replacement turns out to be a big Odell Beckham Jr. fan.
Brandon Aiyuk listed Beckham, circa 2014 or so, as one of his all-time favorite receivers, which is ironic only in that the 49ers’ rising star is unsigned beyond next season, and the Giants have the same pressing need that they have had since trading their last No. 1 option in 2019.
Actually, the Jets, who flirted with signing Beckham as a free agent last season, have a starting wideout on their offseason shopping list, too.
“Just Odell’s ability to go [off] at any time, he was exciting,” Aiyuk said as he recalled being a high-school student in Nevada, where he will play Sunday against the Chiefs in Super Bowl 2024, and watching Beckham’s famous one-handed touchdown catch. “You might be watching the game and then all of a sudden here comes Odell flashing the swag that he played with.”
Giants fans are starved for more of that game-breaking ability.
Despite big investments in Golden Tate, Kenny Golladay and even tight end Darren Waller to spark the passing attack, no pass-catcher has topped 775 yards in any of the past five seasons — let alone approached the 1,095 yards Beckham averaged from 2014-18.
The Jets went six seasons (2016-21) without a 1,000-yard receiver and now are looking to find another threat to cast with Garrett Wilson, like they had with Eric Decker and Brandon Marshall in 2015.
And Aiyuk — who is coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons — is one of the most popular names floated in NFL trade circles because his is one of 10 contracts worth at least $14 million on the 49ers’ 2024 salary cap — including a three-year, $71.5 million extension for receiver Deebo Samuel. Where does that leave Aiyuk?
“I’m an elite receiver in this game,” Aiyuk said matter-of-factly.
But where will be catching passes in the future?
He claimed he hasn’t seen the constant trade speculation. General manager John Lynch might have cost himself a few bucks in negotiations when he recently expressed his disappointment in Aiyuk’s Pro Bowl snub.
“I expect to be here,” said Aiyuk, who has one more year remaining on his contract.
Whereas Samuel is used in a hybrid role as a running back/receiver, Aiyuk’s chemistry with quarterback Brock Purdy has allowed him to ascend into the go-to deep target. His 17.9 yards per reception during the regular season (75 for 1,342) trailed only the Steelers’ George Pickens.
“He got a great release,” 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward said. “Great routes. Great at the catch point. Great blocker. Great with the ball in his hands. He can do it all.”
Consider it proof that the 2020 first-round pick has come a long way since 2021, when head coach Kyle Shanahan publicly expressed some frustrations with Aiyuk’s inconsistency.
“I definitely think Brandon doesn’t get enough credit for all the things he’s done since he’s been in the league,” Samuel said. “Numbers don’t lie. You go down the board and he had 1,500 [yards, including the playoffs] and not too many did that. The year before that he had 1,200. So, what are we missing?”
Aiyuk might have been the biggest game-changer in the NFC Championship game.
After a turnover on downs by the Lions, Aiyuk made a 51-yard catch after the ball bounced off Kindle Vildor’s facemask at the 4-yard line, then he finished off the drive with a touchdown catch to cut the 49ers’ third-quarter deficit to seven points.
Shanahan said the circus catch “could” be one of the greatest catches in the history of the 49ers — a franchise famous for “The Catch” by Dwight Clark in the 1981 NFC Championship game — if they finish as champions.
“You can cement yourself into history forever,” Aiyuk said. “Somebody asked me my favorite memories of Super Bowls in the past, but this is an opportunity to maybe one day be somebody else’s favorite memory.”
