Los Angeles Chargers Trade Rumors: Should They Target Wide Receiver Brandon Aiyuk?

The Los Angeles Chargers have been linked to each and every wide receiver who is rumored to be on the trade block. And for good reason, they have one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks and lack a bonafide #1 receiver.

At the moment, the Chargers have 10 new receivers added over the last two years through free agency, the draft, and undrafted free agents. But CBS Sports is yet again connecting the most recent big-name receiver to spin the rumor mill, Brandon Aiyuk , calling the Chargers a logical landing spot for the 2023 second-team All-Pro receiver.

This isn’t the first time, Aiyuk has been linked to the Chargers. Rumors have been swirling since before the 2024 NFL Draft.

Brandon Aiyuk on the Los Angeles Chargers

This is CBS’s case for Brandon Aiyuk to the Chargers;

“New coach Jim Harbaugh may be infusing old-school, run-first toughness into the rebuilt offense, but that doesn’t mean Justin Herbert can’t still use a proven wideout after the exit of both Keenan Allen and Mike Williams . Aiyuk would rightly bump youngsters Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston into secondary roles, and L.A. would allow him to remain in his home state.”

Of course, Aiyuk’s addition to the Chargers offense is enticing, but CBS points out the flaw in their own argument; the head coach has never sought out an elite receiver. Sometimes, old dogs do learn new tricks, but there is heaps of evidence that Harbaugh won’t be tempted to bite. The most recent example is looking past Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze to select an offensive lineman, Joe Alt.

In Harbaugh’s mind, the team has probably already invested too much in the position.

The Chargers have other, bigger fish to fry particularly on defense. If there were to be a big trade involving Harbaugh’s team, it would most likely be for a defensive lineman, above WR.

Then there are the brass tacks that are the salary cap. The Chargers sit with a comfortable $21.5 million in cap space at the moment, but rumors have it that Aiyuk is looking for Amon-Ra St. Brown money, $30 million per year AAV . Cap hits are fungible. St. Brown is only a $4.8 million cap hit this year, but that jumps to $30 million in two seasons.

If this were an ‘all-in’ situation, this trade could be justified, but they aren’t in that position this year. But they will be in 2025 and ’26. Protecting those seasons this year is the right process.

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