Talks about an extension between the 49ers and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk are still ongoing.
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In the course of this week’s league meetings, 49ers general manager John Lynch gave two significant updates regarding Brandon Aiyuk. While talks are still ongoing on a lucrative new deal, the wideout eligible for an extension is not currently on the trade block.
Aiyuk is bound by a $14.12MM deal through the fifth year option through 2024. After the 26-year-old had a breakout year in 2023 (75 catches, 1,342 yards, seven touchdowns), a new contract will come with a much higher check rate. Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and Deebo Samuel already have lucrative contracts in place with San Francisco; adding Aiyuk to that list will probably be a laborious procedure.
Regarding that, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports that the organization and the player are now “not close” to finalizing a deal. There is still plenty of time to come to an agreement, and Lynch pointed out that once agreements are reached, financial hostilities tend to go away. A trade request has not yet surfaced in the Aiyuk issue, and Samuel’s case is a great example of that.
But lately, the Arizona State product has expressed dissatisfaction on social media, and he has stated that he wants market value in his next contract. During an interview on the Nightcap podcast with Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson (video link), Aiyuk discussed his contract predicament.
According to Yahoo Sports’ Ian Caselberry, Aiyuk stated, “I’m trying to get what I deserve.” “I think that during this football season, I came to terms with my identity as a player and a person, as well as what I bring to the field, the locker room, and the company. Additionally, the value I possess when I enter that building.
The top of the receiver market has risen in the last few years, and the 2024 offseason’s unusually large cap increase will probably contribute to the trend’s continuation. Aiyuk will undoubtedly want to join the group of wideouts who presently earn at least $20MM annually when he signs a new contract. Kittle, Samuel, and McCaffrey are all published authors.
That means it will continue to be interesting to keep a careful eye on San Francisco’s offensive accounting. If Aiyuk is to stay in the team’s coveted skill position group after the upcoming campaign, there seems to be a significant gap in his status that needs to be filled.
