One NFL general manager believes a potential trade for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is "very much in play" ahead of Thursday's draft, according to Michael Silver of the San Francisco Chronicle.

The general manager said the trade was possible because of the 49ers and Aiyuk are "far apart" on an extension, Silver noted. Aiyuk is currently set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2025.

"All I know is that as of Monday night, when I posed the question to a 49ers source with direct knowledge of the team's plans, the words I kept hearing were 'anything's possible,'" Silver wrote.

According to Silver, the 49ers previously reached out to "at least" one general manager in early April "to gauge his interest in trading for Aiyuk."

Aiyuk recorded a career-high 1,342 passing yards for seven touchdowns in 16 regular-season starts for San Francisco last season before adding another score in the playoffs. He is on the 49ers' books for a cap hit of $14.1 million in 2024.

Silver reported that the 49ers' recent negotiations stalled "partly because this is considered a receiver-rich draft."

B/R NFL Scouting Department projects five wide receivers going in the first round in its latest 2024 NFL Mock Draft.

That means target-needy teams like the Arizona Cardinals, New York Giants, Atlanta Falcons, Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills could get the opportunity to add a new receiver in the draft rather than giving up assets for Aiyuk.

The 49ers are also projected by B/R NFL scouts, who peg South Carolina's Xavier Legette as a potential successor to Aiyuk, to draft a wide receiver in the first round.

If San Francisco plans to trade Aiyuk, making the deal before the team's first pick comes up at No. 31 would allow the 49ers to know whether to prioritize drafting a wideout themselves.

However, San Francisco general manager John Lynch told reporters Monday are still "having good talks" with Aiyuk regarding an extension, ESPN's Nick Wagoner reported.

"I've communicated on many occasions: our wish is that he's here and part of the Niners for the rest of his career," Lynch said.

Lynch added that he would like the potential deal to be completed "sooner" than the days before the start of the 2024 season, which is when the 49ers finalized a five-year extension for defensive end Nick Bosa last September.

Lynch's decision could change if the 49ers are as "far apart" on the new deal as Silver describes. San Francisco might not be able to match the wideout's contract expectations as the team prepares for future negotiations with quarterback Brock Purdy, who is eligible for an extension as soon as next offseason.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said Tuesday on The Insiders he "wouldn't be surprised" if Aiyuk can receive a more lucrative extension from another team.

Aiyuk's future with the team could therefore come down to whether the receiver wants to stay in San Francisco, according to Rapoport. That's a question the 49ers will hope to have answered by Thursday's draft.