49ers urged to sign two-time Super Bowl champion to replace injured Brandon Aiyuk

Nothing about this San Francisco 49ers season has gone according to plan, but Brandon Aiyuk's injury may have been the low point.

Sunday, Aiyuk exited the 49ers' game with the Kansas City Chiefs after suffering what many believe to be a torn ACL. Further tests will be done soon to confirm whether or not Aiyuk will miss the remainder of the 2024 season.

It's a devastating blow given Aiyuk's lucrative extension signed days before the regular season, but San Francisco doesn't have time to dwell. They have to figure out who will replace Aiyuk's production in their offense as they claw their way back from a 3-4 start to the season.

Trades are an option, but teams may be hesitant to either punt on their seasons or in the cases of some rivals, give the 49ers any help with their playoff push. Fortunately, there's another receiver who recently became available that San Francisco wouldn't have to trade anything to get.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who was released by the Buffalo Bills last week, is currently available to be signed by any of the 32 teams. Bleacher Report's NFL Scouting Department predicted on Monday that the 49ers would sign Valdes-Scantling to plug the hole in their offense.

"In addition to Aiyuk's injury... Jauan Jennings missed this past weekend's game with a hip injury and Deebo Samuel had to exit early with an illness. So, the 49ers' receiving corps is beaten up and could use an extra veteran moving forward," the authors said.

"Valdes-Scantling might be the team's best bet, as he could at least give the offense another deep threat to finish the season."

Valdes-Scantling, 30, has 3,181 career receiving yards and 16 touchdowns in his seven-year career. He is a two-time defending Super Bowl champion, each with the Kansas City Chiefs, though he played a minimal role in the offense for that Kansas City team.

At times, Valdes-Scantling has looked like an explosive deep threat, once leading the NFL in yards per reception (20.9) with the Green Bay Packers in 2020. He's also had inconsistency issues and is prone to drops, which the 49ers would sorely like to avoid.

Perhaps Valdes-Scantling is not a perfect fit for San Francisco, or indeed, for any team at this time. But the 49ers are known for getting the best out of their veterans, and their need may be great enough in this moment to take a flier on the embattled wideout.

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