Chase Senior of Chat Sports recently joined "The Krueg Show" with Larry Krueger to discuss the San Francisco 49ers and the potential impact of wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk in the team's 2024 championship push. Aiyuk is seeking a contract extension that would make him one of the NFL's highest-paid receivers, but so far, the two sides have been unable to reach an agreement.
Like many fans, Senior wants to see Aiyuk and the 49ers finalize a deal, believing it would boost the team's Super Bowl odds. However, a holdout by Aiyuk during training camp could negatively affect his early-season performance, similar to what happened with defensive end Nick Bosa last year.
"That's not what I want to see," Senior told Krueger (h/t to Jon Opelt for the find). "What I want to see is this savage revenge tour for San Francisco. I want to see them still heartbroken and bitter about that Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in February."
Despite their recent success, the 49ers have yet to secure that elusive sixth championship for the organization. They have appeared in two Super Bowls and four NFC title games over the past five seasons but have repeatedly failed to reach their ultimate goal.
"They haven't won a ring since 1994, and I want to see them take that personally," Senior continued. "I want them to understand that they choked that Super Bowl away, that they should not have lost, that they could have taken down Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid, and it changes so much about the San Francisco 49ers, the legacy of Kyle Shanahan, the story of Brock Purdy."
Aiyuk is under contract for the 2024 season, set to earn $14.124 million on a team-exercised fifth-year option. However, he seeks long-term security and likely wants an average salary that pays him more than twice that amount.
Senior hopes to see every 49ers player ready to climb the mountain again starting in training camp, which can only happen with Aiyuk on the practice field with his teammates.
"I want to see everybody on the same page, right from the jump, starting on July 23 because they're the best team in the NFC," Senior added. "I think they might have the best roster in the NFL. And if Aiyuk is not there, it's just not the same squad. The level of confidence and swagger and physicality and overall talent he brings to the team is drastic.
"So I hope it doesn't get to that point because I think it hurts the on-field product, and that, at the end of the day, is what matters."
