The San Francisco 49ers have one of the most talented rosters in the entire NFL. There comes a time, though, when teams need to make decisions about what star players to pay and which ones to let go. For team with as many stars as the 49ers, those decisions can be increasingly difficult.
All-Pro pass rusher Nick Bosa is already the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL, making $34 million a year. Earlier this offseason, San Francisco made the decision to give running back Christian McCaffrey a contract extension that pays him $19 million a year. He is, of course, the highest-paid running back in the NFL.
With the rest of their star players under contract for the 2024 season, the 49ers had hoped that there would be one more deal they could work out before too long. Unfortunately, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and the team have been unable to make it happen… yet.
The San Francisco 49ers and Wide Receiver Brandon Aiyuk Have Been Negotiating for Months
From the moment the Super Bowl ended, Aiyuk made it known to the world that he would not play for the 49ers again unless he got a new contract. The Second Team All-Pro wide receiver and his girlfriend posted a video outside Levi’s Stadium the day after San Francisco lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIII that they “didn’t know if we will be back here next year.”
In the weeks that followed, it became apparent that Aiyuk and the 49ers were far apart in contract negotiations. So far apart, in fact, that many predicted that the team would just trade him during the 2024 NFL Draft.
Of course, that did not happen. However, there were several teams interested that were willing to both give up a first-round pick as part of their package and pay Aiyuk $30+ million a year.
San Francisco wanted to keep on trying to reach an agreement with Aiyuk. According to the wide receiver, though, there was a great deal of radio silence between his agents and the team.
San Francisco 49ers Wide Receiver Brandon Aiyuk Has Been the Center of Trade Rumors for Months
The 49ers, as all NFL teams did, held their organized team activities and mandatory minicamp during the summer. Their Second Team All-Pro did not attend.
Aiyuk’s absence and his comments about playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers or Washington Commanders only fueled the rumors that he would eventually be traded.
When training camp began, Aiyuk showed up, much to the surprise of everyone. However, it turns out that he only showed up so that he could avoid the mandatory $50,000 daily fine for holding out. He is not participating in practices.
Around the time that training camp began, he formerly requested a trade from the 49ers.
Since then, multiple teams have again expressed interest in the former first round pick. According to reports, the New England Patriots were ready to pay Aiyuk over $30 million a year, but he turned down their offer due to his disdain for their quarterbacks.
There are other teams interested, but nothing has happened yet.
The San Francisco 49ers Have Renewed Contract Talks with Brandon Aiyuk
While the feeling was that a trade was inevitable, the latest update from Tom Pelissero of NFL Network indicates that San Francisco has not given up yet. According to the NFL insider, San Fracisco has renewed their efforts to extend and retain Aiyuk:
The #49ers have made a renewed effort in recent days to strike a long-term deal with WR Brandon Aiyuk, sources tell me and @MikeGarafolo.
The situation is fluid and other teams, including Pittsburgh, are still in the mix. But a return to SF appears increasingly possible.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 9, 2024
Obviously, a great deal of work needs to be done considering how tense the negotiations have been. That being said, the goal for both sides going into this process was to keep Aiyuk in the Bay Area, and both still have that end as their preferred outcome.
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