NFL writer's draft weekend trade proposal features Los Angeles Chargers adding elite weapon for Justin Herbert

But, one of the sport’s emerging and dynamic playmakers has been the subject of persistent trade rumors this offseason and could be in the Chargers’ sights.

This wouldn’t be the first time that a marquee wide receiver was traded during draft weekend; the Philadelphia Eagles acquired A.J. Brown via a draft-night deal with the Tennessee Titans, and, the Baltimore Ravens plucked Marquise “Hollywood” Brown in a draft weekend trade with the Arizona Cardinals.

Perhaps, the Chargers could be the next team to acquire a veteran receiver during the draft.

Proposed Los Angeles Chargers-San Francisco 49ers Swap Lands Brandon Aiyuk

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell put together a list of potential draft weekend trades that could reasonably happen, including a 49ers-Chargers blockbuster that sends playmaking wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk to Los Angeles.

“Getting Justin Herbert a plug-and-play No. 1 wide receiver in Aiyuk,” Barnwell writes. “Is a move the Chargers would need to consider, even if it meant passing up one of the top wideouts in this class. Aiyuk has had multiple impressive seasons with the 49ers, has grown into the sort of complete player-coach Jim Harbaugh would love and just turned 26 in March.

“He can be great with Herbert right now, and this would be a perfect landing spot for him in terms of a potential quarterback situation. Harbaugh could still go grab an offensive tackle at the bottom of Round 1.”

Aiyuk caught 75 passes for a career-high 1,342 yards, and seven touchdowns last season, but, the 49ers could prefer to select Nabers or Odunze than extend Aiyuk’s deal.

What Would Brandon Aiyuk Trade Look Like?

Aiyuk is set to play out the final season of his four-year rookie contract, and the Chargers have upwards of $31.5 million in cap space this season and $107 million in 2025 to easily make a new deal feasible for Herbert’s new weapon.

Here are the details of the trade Barnwell proposes:

49ers get: Round 1, Pick No. 5, Round 6, Pick No. 181
Chargers get: WR Brandon Aiyuk, Round 1, Pick No. 31, Round 3, Pick No. 94

The biggest question for the Chargers is whether head coach Jim Harbaugh and company believe a known commodity and potential ideal scheme fit is worth paying a significant premium for against the cap rather than standing pat and selecting a deep-threat like Nabers.

But, the 49ers would most certainly prefer a salary reset at receiver with a colossal Brock Purdy contract looming.

This is a fascinating hypothetical trade that has upside for both teams, and would give Aiyuk the opportunity to ascend to the top of the Chargers’ depth chart, and on the receiving end of passes from one of the game’s elite quarterbacks.