The San Francisco 49ers and Second Team All-Pro wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk have been deadlocked in contract negotiations for months. It all started the day after the 49ers lost Super Bowl LVIII to the Kansas City Chiefs when Aiyuk and his girlfriend posted a video of themselves parked outside Levi’s Stadium. In the video, it was said that this might be the last time the couple visited the stadium as “we don’t know if we will be back next year.”
In the weeks that followed, discussions between the wide receiver and 49ers did not go well. The situation was so bad that many thought San Francisco might unload the disgruntled Aiyuk during the 2024 NFL Draft.
Of course, that did not happen and what followed was a summer filled with trade rumors and finger-pointing.
The San Francisco 49ers and Brandon Aiyuk Had a Tumultuous Summer
During and after the 2024 NFL Draft, 49ers general manager John Lynch remained adamant that he believed San Francisco and their star wide receiver would be able to come to an agreement on a contract extension. Of course, that did not happen over the summer, nor has it happened during training camp.
The main sticking point in negotiations appears to be the annual salary amount. Aiyuk wants at least $30 million a season, much like the contract Amon-Ra St. Brown received from the Detroit Lions earlier in the offseason. The 49ers, however, have been offering $26 million a year.
Talks broke down numerous times and Aiyuk began to publicly speculate about playing for a different team in 2024. Specifically, he mentioned the Washington Commanders and Pittsburgh Steelers as two teams that he could see himself suiting up for.
Right around the start of training camp, Aiyuk formerly requested a trade from San Francisco after no progress was made on his contract extension.
San Francisco 49ers Wide Receiver Brandon Aiyuk Has Turned Down Multiple Trade and Contract Offers
This has all the feelings of a situation that has been botched by both sides. According to multiple reports, the 49ers had numerous teams willing to give up their first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, along with more picks, to acquire Aiyuk before the draft even started. Not only that, but they were also willing to pay the disgruntled wide receiver what he wanted.
Obviously, the 49ers turned those offers down.
Now Aiyuk’s market is smaller, but there are still teams interested. The problem is that there do not seem to be many teams that the wide receiver is interested in playing for. According to multiple outlets, Aiyuk has already turned down trade and contract offers from the New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns.
The Patriots were willing to pay him $32 million a year, too.
As preseason games have started and the regular season approaches, it appears that this months-long soap opera will have one of two different endings.
The Pittsburgh Steelers Are the Only Team Left Willing to Trade for San Francisco 49ers Wide Receiver Brandon Aiyuk
After Aiyuk’s rejections of the Browns and Patriots, there are two teams left in the picture: the 49ers themselves and the Steelers.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, “I’m told it’s pretty much down to the Steelers and 49ers, him staying in San Francisco, at this point. I was told around Thursday the 49ers intensified their efforts to try to re-sign him after some stagnant weeks where he was sitting around waiting to be traded, essentially.”
As Fowler noted, the 49ers have started to renew their conversations with Aiyuk in an effort to convince him to stay in San Francisco. At this point, though, Aiyuk has not been impressed with their contract offers and they have not been impressed with what the Steelers are offering in a trade.
Who knows what will end up happening?
For More Great Football Content
Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19 more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in college and professional football, click here!
