A long-time former NFL executive Randy Mueller thinks Brandon Aiyuk and his representation are using any ammunition they can as they negotiate with the San Francisco 49ers this offseason. Mueller thinks Aiyuk is coming from a position of weakness.
AIyuk met with the 49ers this week to discuss his situation with the team ahead of training camp next month. The meeting reportedly went well, but not much has changed in the status of their negotiations. Aiyuk and the 49ers remain the subject of trade rumors this summer.
Brandon Aiyuk has been stirring the pot
Aiyuk has started to make references to the trade market in recent weeks. As previously discussed on GH, Aiyuk released a video on TikTok of him talking to his former Arizona State teammate about the situation in San Francisco:
This morning, a viral TikTok video of Brandon Aiyuk was posted of him on a video call with Washington Commanders rookie QB Jayden Daniels. In the video, it appears that Aiyuk is discussing his current situation with the 49ers. Then, he told Daniels this shocking update:
“They said they don’t want me back… I swear.” -Brandon Aiyuk
This week, it was reported that Aiyuk told ESPN’s Ryan Clark that he was “open” to a trade if the 49ers didn’t offer him a respectable deal. Aiyuk also responded sarcastically to a report that the 49ers and Commanders had trade talks.
The San Francisco 49ers have the leverage
Mueller wrote in The Athletic that Aiyuk is stirring the pot in the hopes of putting pressure on the 49ers front office. However, it’s not likely to change anything in the front office as Aiyuk has little leverage:
That narrative is someone throwing mud at the wall — chances of it sticking are remote, at best. Aiyuk is not getting traded. He’s the 49ers’ best wide receiver, and trading him would make them a worse team, no matter what draft choices they would receive in return. It just doesn’t make sense.
Aiyuk has the short straw. He has a contract for 2024 that will pay him $14.1 million, and under the current CBA, holding out of training camp is not a viable option. If the 49ers wanted to play hardball, they could make Aiyuk play for that and then franchise-tag him for 2025.
Aiyuk’s best chance for leverage is to wait
Mueller thinks Aiyuk’s best bet would be to wait for CeeDee Lamb and Ja’Marr Chase to sign new deals so he can ask for money next offseason. However, that would mean he’d risk playing the next season or more without the guarantees he wants. Mueller believes the 49ers will reach a deal with Aiyuk before training camp (thanks to Amon-Ra St. Brown), but they don’t have to do anything.
The 49ers assured themselves of having the upper hand when they drafted Ricky Pearsall in the first round. Aiyuk and his team will likely continue putting out materials that draw attention to the possibility of a trade as the negotiating process drags on. But that’s because it’s Aiyuk’s only resort.
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