The San Francisco 49ers must trim their roster to 53 players today (Tuesday). For many of the players that have been with the team since training camp began, their dream of making an NFL roster will end today. Some will be signed to the practice squad, or to the practice squad of another team, but most of the others will be unemployed.
One tricky factor in the 49ers’ decision making today will be the status of wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. After a long saga of contract extension negotiations, a trade demand, and two rejected trades by the Second Team All-Pro, San Francisco still does not know for certain if Aiyuk will be on their roster in 2024, or on someone else’s.
One team legend, Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young, is tired of the games.
San Francisco 49ers Legend Steve Young Calls Out Brandon Aiyuk
Speaking on KNBR radio (via Heavy NFL) in the Bay Area, Young went off on Aiyuk and his weeks-long hold-in and public demands of the 49ers, saying, “It was like, bro, if you want to tear up the contract and do something big, then you might want to go the fifth year and go prove it out, to make sure that everybody’s on board with you setting the market.”
He continued, “If you’re going to ask to be traded, then when they make a trade that works for them, you got to say you’re up for it. You don’t say, ‘Oh, no, that doesn’t work for me,’ because then, it was like, ‘Well, what do you want?’”
Aiyuk has already turned down trades to the New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns. The contract offer that he received from the Patriots reportedly would have paid him $32 million a year.
There is currently a deal on the table from the Pittsburgh Steelers, but Aiyuk wants to wait and see if the 49ers will up their own contract extension offer to him before he accepts it.
San Francisco 49ers Wide Receiver Brandon Aiyuk Should Play on His Fifth-Year Option to Raise His Market
Last season, Aiyuk was named a Second Team All-Pro 75 receptions for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns. It was his second consecutive 1,000-yard season after catching 78 passes for 1,015 yards and eight touchdowns in 2022.
Earlier this offseason, the Detroit Lions gave Amon-Ra St. Brown a four-year $120 million contract extension that will pay him $30 million a year on average. This is the kind of money that Aiyuk is looking for, but based on their career numbers, it may not be a very reasonable expectation.
| Brandon Aiyuk | Amon-Ra St. Brown | |
| Receptions | 269 | 315 |
| Receiving Yards | 3,931 | 3,588 |
| Touchdowns | 25 | 21 |
As one can see, their numbers are very similar, but Aiyuk has been playing in the NFL for four years while Aiyuk has been playing for four.
If Aiyuk really wants to get the most money possible, he should play his fifth-year option and seek more money on what is sure to be an inflated wide receiver market next year. Justin Jefferson got $35 million a year from the Minnesota Vikings and CeeDee Lamb got $34 million a year from the Dallas Cowboys.
A dominant year for Aiyuk in 2024 could help him convince the 49ers and other teams that he should be paid like them.
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