The 49ers and Brandon Aiyuk are not moving further with their contract negotiations. There have been a lot of rumors around the 2023 Second-Team All-Pro player leaving the Niners because to possible disagreements over a multi-year extension. But as The Athletic NFL insider Dianna Russini revealed to Colin Cowherd during her most recent appearance on “The Herd,” the turmoil surrounding the wideout’s contract situation stems down to money.
The wideout market is becoming more and more competitive, which makes it extremely difficult for the Niners to compensate their star players appropriately, even if they obviously want to keep Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel on the team.
The 49ers were willing to consider transferring Aiyuk if the appropriate package was offered, according to Russini.
Brandon Aiyuk’s importance to 49ers
Given Aiyuk’s development during the last four years, San Francisco would like to acquire a sizable combination of assets and picks, though the exact amount is yet unknown. Similarly, this scenario helps to explain why the team chose to draft wide receivers Jacob Cowing and Ricky Pearsall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Russini stated that the front office’s attachment to Aiyuk isn’t as great as their one with Christian McCaffrey, even though they intended to keep him wearing a Niners uniform. As a result, the team extended a contract to their best wide receiver that would average between $26 and $27 million per year. But as the receiver market took off, that offer was become outdated, meaning Aiyuk’s value increased overnight.
That being stated, both parties have one week to finalize this contract because Aiyuk won’t report to the 49ers training camp until July 23. But don’t worry, Niners fans—delayed contracts are part of the team’s DNA, much as Nick Bosa’s hefty extension from the previous season attests to.
