During this week’s league meetings, 49ers general John Lynch provided a pair of important updates in the case of Brandon Aiyuk. The extension-eligible wideout is not on the trade block at this time, while negotiations on a lucrative new deal are ongoing.
Aiyuk is under contract for 2024 via the fifth-year option, valued at $14.12M. A new deal will check in at far higher rate, after the 26-year-old delivered a career year in 2023 (75 catches, 1,342 yards, seven touchdowns). San Francisco already has big-money deals in place for Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle and Deebo Samuel. Adding Aiyuk to that list will likely be a cumbersome process.
On that point, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports team and player are “not close” to a deal being finalized at this point. Plenty of time remains for an agreement to be worked out, and Lynch noted acrimony related to finances can dissipate once deals are struck. Samuel’s case is a prime example of that and the Aiyuk situation has not reached the point of a trade request emerging.
However, the Arizona State product has shown signs of discontent on social media recently, and he has made it clear he is aiming for market value on his next deal. Aiyuk spoke about his contract situation during an appearance on the “Nightcap” podcast with Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson (video link).
“I’m trying to get what I deserve,” Aiyuk said, via Yahoo Sports’ Ian Caselberry. “I feel like this season, this season playing football, I figured out who I was as a person and a player, what I bring to the table, what I bring to the locker room, what I bring to the organization. And just the value I hold when I walk in that building.”
The top of the receiver market has surged in recent years and an unexpectedly high cap increase for the 2024 offseason will likely help continue that trend. 16 wideouts currently average at least $20M per season and Aiyuk will no doubt aim to join that list on his next contract. McCaffrey, Kittle and Samuel are each on the books for two more years, though, with a monster extension for quarterback Brock Purdy likely not far away.
San Francisco’s accounting on the offensive side of the ball will thus remain worth watching closely. In Aiyuk’s situation, a notable gap appears to exist which will need to be closed if he is to remain a member of the team’s vaunted skill-position group beyond the coming campaign.
