49ers' George Kittle shares Brandon Aiyuk plea before draft

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle left little doubt that he doesn't want the club to trade wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk at any point during the 2024 NFL Draft, which gets underway on Thursday. 

"Me, on the outside looking in, I don’t know how we don’t keep Brandon as a 49er for as long as he wants to be one because he’s such a talented player," Kittle told Fox News Digital's Scott Thompson. "If you give a guy like that 120 targets, you guys are going to see absolutely crazy things. And he did that with almost no targets this year when you’re competing with four or five guys to get the ball. He’s a true wide receiver one, and he’s going to get what he deserves."

Aiyuk is in the final year of his rookie contract and has been the subject of numerous trade rumors throughout the offseason. NFL insider Michael Silver reported earlier this week that the 26-year-old could be dealt as soon as Thursday "for the right price." He suggested that the 49ers could accept a 2024 second-round draft pick if packaged with a 2025 third-rounder in return for Aiyuk. 

Silver added that the 49ers won't trade either Kittle or receiver Deebo Samuel so that they can pay Aiyuk. Kittle revealed to Thompson that he's spoken with Aiyuk about what can be a stressful situation for any athlete who doesn't know where he'll be living months down the road. 

"I haven’t asked the details of his contract or anything like that, but it’s just more of a, 'Hey, be patient,'" Kittle said. "It’s just kind of the way the Niners do things. I didn’t sign my contract until two-and-a-half weeks into training camp, and that’s pretty stressful when you have to go out there and practice while doing a deal." 

In September 2023, the 49ers and superstar pass-rusher Nick Bosa agreed to a deal just days before the club's regular-season opener. Kittle indicated that Aiyuk, who hasn't yet requested a trade, will be patient if necessary. 

"He’s in the right state of mind, the right space," Kittle said about Aiyuk. "I’m not worried about Brandon."

Whether or not Kittle and Aiyuk will still be teammates on Sunday remains to be seen.