Since joining the league, Aiyuk has proven himself to be a reliable receiver and could potentially become the top target in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offensive game plan. Despite not being chosen for the Pro Bowl or All-Pro team, Aiyuk possesses a significant amount of talent that can rival those who have. If the 49ers decide not to extend Aiyuk’s contract, another team may snatch up this gifted wide receiver.
According to Michael Silver, the 49ers are expected to fill their defensive coordinator vacancy internally, which makes sense given last season’s outcome. The 49ers did not want to alter their defensive scheme but also did not want to promote a coach from their staff. Instead, they hired Steve Wilks, instructed him to learn their scheme, did not allow him to bring any of his assistant coaches, and then terminated him at the end of the season. The 49ers would be unwise to repeat this error by bringing in an outsider and forcing them to be someone they are not. Additionally, an outsider would be foolish to follow in Wilks’ footsteps and become the 49ers’ next scapegoat.
The 49ers must promote a defensive coordinator from within their staff to ensure the players buy in. They did not buy into Wilks because they did not know him. If the 49ers promote defensive backs coach Daniel Bullocks to defensive coordinator, the players should play hard for him since many have known him since 2017, and they seem to like him.
However, if the 49ers choose to promote Bullocks, one may wonder why they did not do so last year, given his eight years on the staff. If he was not prepared to take on the role last year, what has changed this year?
It would not be surprising if the 49ers announce their next defensive coordinator in the coming days.
