Patience appears to be growing thin between Brandon Aiyuk and the San Francisco 49ers ahead of training camp this month. Rookies are set to report for training camp on Tuesday. Veterans will rejoin the team on July 23.
Aiyuk might not be there, and he could be on another team.
An offseason of drama for the San Francisco 49ers
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Aiyuk and the 49ers have had a contentious offseason as their star wide receiver negotiates for a contract extension with the front office. The 49ers reportedly offered Aiyuk $26 million per year. However, Aiyuk wants a deal just north of what the Detroit Lions gave Amon-Ra St. Brown this offseason at $30 million annually.
The 49ers have plenty of leverage
As previously discussed on GH, ESPN’s Adam Schefter has said the 49ers want to keep Aiyuk, and they might be willing to use the franchise tag to keep him in San Francisco for the next two seasons:
“[The 49ers] have wanted [Aiyuk] back. They’ve intended to bring him back, but the wide receiver market has shifted, which makes it tough,” Schefter said. “So it’s harder to do a deal now than it was a couple of months ago. And Brandon Aiyuk thinks that he deserves what all these top receivers are getting, and the Niners have a certain price point figured out..
“So now, when you start to sit down, figure out the guaranteed money,” Schefter said. “Again, the franchise tag here is a weapon for the 49ers, which is not what the franchise tag was intended to be. But again, that’s the 49ers’ advantage.”
Brandon Aiyuk officially requested a trade
According to Mike Garafolo with the NFL Network, Aiyuk officially requested a trade Tuesday:
Source: #49ers All-Pro WR Brandon Aiyuk has officially requested a trade after an offseason of unsuccessful attempts to reach an extension. Despite a recent meeting, the Niners haven’t been willing to engage in negotiations since May so Aiyuk has respectfully asked out.
Aiyuk said earlier this offseason that he would be open to a trade if the 49ers did not give him a respectful deal. However, Aiyuk and his representation made it clear that this wasn’t an official request.
We have a trade request now, and it’s up to the 49ers’ front office to respond. It remains to be seen if Aiyuk will hold out of training camp or the regular season if the 49ers decide not to honor his request to agree to a contract extension.
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