Ryan Clark: 49ers, Brock Purdy would suffer without Brandon Aiyuk in 2024

The San Francisco 49ers have made one thing clear regarding Brandon Aiyuk: they have no intention of trading the star wide receiver. Aiyuk requested a trade this week after negotiations for a contract extension failed to progress to his satisfaction. Teams have reportedly come calling, but the 49ers remain firm in their desire to keep Aiyuk on their roster this season.

The 49ers are coming off a heartbreaking Super Bowl defeat, the second of the Kyle Shanahan head coaching era. They aspire to make another run at a championship and know they probably can't do so without Aiyuk lining up on offense.

Aiyuk is under contract, set to earn $14.124 million in 2024 on a team-exercised fifth-year option. However, he seeks to become one of the NFL's highest-paid receivers. That market has exploded this offseason, with four wideouts now earning an average of at least $30 million annually. Aiyuk likely aims to join that group.

Discussing the standoff between the 49ers and Aiyuk during ESPN's "Get Up," Ryan Clark believes San Francisco's Super Bowl hopes hinge on finding a way to reach an agreement with the disgruntled receiver.

"I think San Francisco suffers without Brandon Aiyuk greatly," analyst Clark declared to host Mike Greenberg. "I think Brock Purdy takes a step back and there's some regression in his game without Brandon Aiyuk. Just look at the way he was able to win, especially in the playoff game versus the Detroit Lions. When you watched him line up, when it was one-on-one, when you tried to shade him with the safety, he found ways to make plays.

"And you think of so many of the timing routes that happen outside of the numbers, it's Brandon Aiyuk. Yes, he operates to [George] Kittle inside the numbers. He operates to Deebo Samuel inside the numbers. But when we're talking about those timing routes that have to be precise, that have to be right now, Brandon Aiyuk is that guy.

"And so I think everything changes for the San Francisco 49ers if he's not on this team this year, more so, to me, than if you lose a Deebo Samuel."

Clark was part of "The Pivot Podcast," where Aiyuk appeared last month to voice his frustrations surrounding the contract negotiations with his team.

The 49ers expect Aiyuk to report to training camp on July 23 with the rest of his veteran teammates. The receiver didn't show up for San Francisco's mandatory minicamp last month, subjecting himself to approximately $100,000 in fines. Those fines will increase if Aiyuk chooses to skip out on training camp.