Whereas a lot of the main target for the San Francisco 49ers this offseason has been on Deebo Samuel, there’s a teammate within the huge receiver room worthy of equally important consideration as he enters 12 months three of his NFL profession.

The 49ers traded up within the first spherical of the 2020 NFL Draft for Brandon Aiyuk and, two years into his time within the professionals, some could also be questioning whether or not that transfer was a mistake.

To pose such questions on Aiyuk could be to make a harsh evaluation of the beginning of his NFL profession. Aiyuk could not have reached the heights of fellow first-round receiver Justin Jefferson by way of pure manufacturing, but he has unquestionably been a key contributor for the Niners and goes into 12 months three with a chance for a breakout season.

San Francisco’s new huge receivers coach Leonard Hankerson seemingly believes as such, telling Matt Barrows of The Athletic that Aiyuk solely actually began to familiarize yourself with Kyle Shanahan’s system throughout the second half of the 2021 season.

“Now it is about how he can take that subsequent step to be one of the best,” Hankerson mentioned.

The numbers again up Hankerson’s feedback about Aiyuk’s efficiency down the stretch run. Because the Niners acquired sizzling to achieve the postseason as a six seed, he completed with no less than 85 yards in 5 of the final 10 video games. Aiyuk scored a landing in two of the video games through which he failed to take action, together with the game-winner in extra time towards the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 14.

As his receivers coach indicated, the stress is on Aiyuk to construct on the extent of efficiency he displayed within the second half of the 12 months and within the postseason for everything of 2022.

Doubtlessly serving to him do that’s the impending swap to Trey Lance as beginning quarterback. The Niners offense probably will change no less than considerably as they pivot from Jimmy Garoppolo—a quarterback who does his greatest work on brief and intermediate throws—to an aggressive signal-caller with arm to make downfield throws with higher consistency.

Samuel led the Niners and was third within the NFL with 23 receptions of 20 yards or extra in 2021. The character of his recreation and the way the Niners used him, nevertheless, meant that lots of these receptions got here on performs the place he created yards after the catch. Samuel’s 10.4 yards after catch per reception had been a league-high, per the NFL’s NextGen Stats.

Aiyuk had a powerful 16 such catches and, whereas he too excels with the ball in his fingers—Aiyuk and tight finish George Kittle every averaged 6.7 yards after catch per reception in 2021—no San Francisco receiver had the next common depth of goal than Aiyuk’s 9.8.

Although the 49ers picked speedster Danny Grey within the third spherical of this 12 months’s draft, Aiyuk may nicely emerge as Lance’s greatest downfield choice amongst their established pass-catchers.

Certainly, the 49ers’ religion in his route-running potential could quickly pay higher dividends. His 2021 common separation of two.9 yards—per NextGen Stats—was corresponding to Davante Adams (2.9) and Jefferson (3), two of the league’s premier route-runners.

It trailed each Kittle (3.1) and Samuel (3.3), but they had been every afforded extra cushion than Aiyuk. On common, Aiyuk was given 5.5 yards of cushion in comparison with 5.8 for Kittle and 6.7 for Samuel.

The significance of each Samuel—whom the 49ers stay dedicated to maintaining regardless of his commerce request—and Kittle to the offense, will probably hold Aiyuk because the third choice within the passing recreation.

His place within the pecking order undoubtedly impacts the potential for an Aiyuk breakout season however, given his mastery of the offense, his separation abilities, current historical past of constructing performs downfield and his potential to create after the catch, there’s arguably no receiver higher suited to the problem of excelling in a Shanahan scheme tailor-made to the strengths of Lance.

Defenses will stay targeted on Samuel, Kittle and the specter of a run recreation prone to solely develop extra various with Lance beneath middle. Nevertheless, 2022 may very well be a 12 months through which Aiyuk emphatically punishes them for not paying correct consideration to his substantial items.