NFC West burning questions for 2024 season: Will 49ers trade Brandon Aiyuk? Big year coming for Kyler Murray?

Although there are several good divisions in NFLthe NFC West could be the league’s most interesting division in 2024. After all, the NFC West includes the last NFC team to win the Super Bowlthe defending conference champions, as well as the highest skill position player selected in this year’s draft.

The division also has several other interesting stories to follow. An ongoing story surrounds the 49ers and whether or not they will trade receiver Brandon Aiyuk or teammate Deebo Samuel. Another chapter was recently added to this story after Aiyuk decided to skip the 49ers’ mandatory minicamp.

With training camp just around the corner, he takes a look at the burning question facing each NFC West team, starting with the possible futures of San Francisco’s top receivers.

San Francisco 49ers

Will the team trade Brandon Aiyuk before the start of the 2024 season?

My guess is that Aiyuk will remain in San Francisco despite his recent holdout in minicamp, along with the fact that the 49ers recently extended the contracts of teammate Jauan Jennings and running back Christian McCaffrey. There is still time for the 49ers to extend Aiyuk’s contract this offseason, but it could come at the expense of one of his teammates.

That teammate is Samuel, who recently recognized that the team was in talks about the possibility of trading him earlier this offseason. Samuel still has two years remaining on a three-year, $71.55 million extension he signed in 2022. The 49ers, however, have the option to release him after the 2024 season.

San Francisco is hoping it can keep the band together for at least another year, so don’t be surprised if the 49ers keep both wideouts in 2024 for another year. Super Bowl run. Things should get interesting after this season, though.

The 49ers won’t have three wideouts under substantial long-term contracts, meaning someone will have to walk out the door. That someone appears to be Samuel, as the 49ers had fun trading for him this offseason, extended Jennings’ contract and spent their 2024 first-round pick on former Florida receiver Ricky Pearsall.

At this point, all signs point to the 49ers having Aiyuk and Samuel for one last shout.

The Rams could make another Super Bowl run?

The Rams have several things going for them. They play in the considerably easier NFC conference. They have a likely future Hall of Fame quarterback at center in Matthew Stafford, who is armed with one of the NFL best receiving duos in Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. They are led by one of NFL best coaches in Sean McVay, who already has two trips to the Super Bowl under your belt.

These are the main reasons why I believe the Rams are capable of making another Super Bowl will run in 2024. But there are a few more reasons I like their chances.

Los Angeles’ offense is led by its passing game, but the team got some much-needed balance last year with running back Kyren Williams. After seeing limited work as a rookie, Williams stepped into the starting role and was named to the Pro Bowl after rushing for 12 touchdowns and leading the NFL averaging 95.3 rushing yards per game.

The Rams’ first two draft picks should have a significant impact this year on a defense that lost Aaron Donald to retirement. While there is no one who can replace Donald, rookie outside linebacker Jared Verse and defensive end Braden Fiske will add spark to a defense that was a pedestrian 19th in the NFL in points allowed in 2024.

Will Kyler Murray regain his superstar status?

It’s been strange to see Murray go unnoticed the last two years. A Pro Bowler in 2020 and 2021, Murray’s ACL injury late in the 2022 season (which sidelined him for more than half of the 2023 season) and the Cardinals’ demise are the two biggest reasons he left the national spotlight.

The crazy part is that Murray – unbeknownst to most – played at his usual high level upon returning from injury last year. In eight games, Murray led the Cardinals to three of the team’s four victories, which included surprise victories at Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. He nearly led Arizona to a surprising victory over eventual AFC South champion Houston in his second game back from injury.

Given how well he played last year, I would be surprised if Murray doesn’t regain his place as one of the NFL best quarterbacks in 2024. Boosting my confidence is the addition of Marvin Harrison Jr., the top receiver prospect in this year’s draft.

Murray has high hopes for what the Cardinals can do in 2024. Along with Harrison, the Cardinals’ offseason additions include wideout Zay Jones, offensive tackle and former Bengals first-round pick Jonah Williams, defensive end rookie Darius Robinson and cornerback and fellow rookie Max Melton.

“Earn the Super Bowl“, Murray recently said, through the Arizona Republic. “That’s my goal. That’s my expectation.”

Is Geno Smith’s job in danger?

seattle he quickly stated that Smith is still the starting quarterback shortly after being traded for Sam Howell, who led the NFL on pass attempts last year as the Commanders’ starting quarterback. Smith is still the starter, but don’t think for a second that his job is completely safe.

Smith’s professional status is not in danger now. The 33-year-old is coming off back-to-back Pro Bowl campaigns and is two years away from leading the NFL in percentage of completion. Smith loses the job, but Howell’s arrival makes things interesting.

Howell’s presence adds additional emphasis to Smith and Seattle’s fast start. But if the Seahawks struggle early, new coach Mike Macdonald may decide to turn to Howell to help right the ship.

Barring a slow start or an injury to Smith, I don’t see Howell taking over this season unless the Seahawks are out of the playoffs in December or early January. I don’t see that happening, as the Seahawks have the talent to secure one of the conference’s seven playoff spots.

Smith’s ability to take care of the football gives him a huge advantage over his 23-year-old teammate. Howell’s 21 interceptions last season are one pick more than Smith’s total number of interceptions over the past two seasons. Until Howell cleans up that aspect of his game, he won’t start ahead of Smith or anyone else.