Last offseason, one of the biggest storylines in the NFL was the ongoing standoff between the San Francisco 49ers and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Coming off of a 2023 campaign that saw him haul in 75 receptions for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns, the Second Team All-Pro wideout wanted to get paid.
What followed was months of trade rumors, Aiyuk dropping hints of what team(s) he wanted to play for, and a whole lot of radio silence from the 49ers front office. When training camp finally did come around, Aiyuk reported, but refused to participate in practice until he got what he wanted. Or was traded.
Of course, the team eventually gave their star wide receiver what he was looking for, a four-year contract extension worth $120 million, or $30 million a year, making him one of the highest-paid players at his position in the NFL.
San Francisco 49ers Wide Receiver Brandon Aiyuk Was Injured in 2024
Unfortunately for the 49ers and Aiyuk, they have had to wait to get a return on their investment. Along with the rest of the San Francisco offense, the All-Pro wide receiver got off to a slow start in 2024, catching 25 passes for 374 yards and no touchdowns through the first seven games of the season.
And in that seventh game, Aiyuk’s season abruptly ended.
Injuries plagued the 49ers all season long, especially on offense, and their star wide receiver was unable to avoid the injury bug. He tore his ACL in the seventh game of the season, ending his year prematurely.
And while he is expected to be ready to return early in the season, perhaps as early as Week One, it appears that he is, once again, unhappy with the organization.
Brandon Aiyuk Called Out the San Francisco 49ers for Trying to Trade Him
As was the case last offseason, the 49ers made no secret of the fact that they were open to trading Aiyuk. In fact, it sounds like they were actively shopping him.
Unsurprisingly, no teams were interested in trading for a wide receiver coming off of a torn ACL, at least not at the price San Francisco must have been asking.
But Aiyuk was well-aware of the 49ers’ intentions, and he is not happy about it. He recently posted a comment on his YouTube channel that reads, “They was talking bout trading me while I was off percocets/muscle relaxers and peeing in a cup by my bed! Couldn’t walk for 10 weeks ain’t nobody trading for me.”
General manager John Lynch has said all offseason that San Francisco and Aiyuk have a great relationship.
It sounds like that feeling is not mutual.
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