For months, it seemed like the San Francisco 49ers and All-Pro wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk were on their way to a messy divorce. The former first round pick did not want to play on his fifth-year option without a new contract extension.
All summer, there were reports of stalled contract negotiations and possible trades. Aiyuk even had a list of teams that he could have seen himself playing for instead of the 49ers this season. This list consisted of the Washington Commanders and Pittsburgh Steelers, both of which were interested in trading for the disgruntled wide receiver.
The offseason came and went with no progress, and while Aiyuk showed up to training camp, he did not participate in practices and formally requested a trade.
San Francisco 49ers Wide Receiver Brandon Aiyuk Turned Down 2 Trade Offers
Once Aiyuk requested a trade away from the 49ers, there were numerous teams that were willing to trade for him. One of these teams, the New England Patriots, was willing to pay Aiyuk $32 million a year. What is more, the 49ers found the Patriots’ trade offer acceptable and would have sent him to New England.
However, Aiyuk turned down their contract offer and nixed the trade because he did not want to play with any of the Patriots’ quarterbacks.
The Cleveland Browns, too, were willing to trade for the disgruntled wide receiver. Their offer to the 49ers also reportedly included Pro Bowl wide receiver Amari Cooper as part of the return.
Aiyuk turned them down too.
That left the Steelers as the only team with an offer on the table, one which San Francisco was ready to accept. Aiyuk, though, had hesitations.
The San Francisco 49ers Sent an Ultimatum to Brandon Aiyuk
As everyone knows, the 49ers and Aiyuk finally did agree on a four-year $120 million contract extension. After the signing, the wide receiver admitted that he made the final weeks of the saga much more difficult than they should have been.
Apparently, San Francisco had made the contract offer he agreed to two weeks before he actually accepted it.
According to a report by Jay Glazer on Fox Sports, head coach Kyle Shanahan was so fed up with the drama that he told Aiyuk to sign the deal or he would be traded by the end of the day:
This story is WILD. 🤯
According to @JayGlazer, Brandon Aiyuk called off a trade to the Steelers in the eleventh hour to stay with the 49ers!
Kyle Shanahan told Aiyuk that he had to make a decision by the end of practice on the day the deal got done. Aiyuk chose to stay in San… pic.twitter.com/CAXBHXLOEO
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 8, 2024
Aiyuk signed the deal and is now under contract with San Francisco for the foreseeable future.
How his contract may impact their ability to re-sign other star players, though, remains to be seen.
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