Tight end George Kittle is rooting for his teammate and friend, Brandon Aiyuk, as the San Francisco 49ers work towards a contract extension with the star wide receiver. However, the two sides have not agreed on a mutually beneficial salary.
Aiyuk is set to earn $14.124 million on a team-exercised fifth-year option in 2024, well below the market value for a top wide receiver. The wide receiver market has exploded this offseason, and Aiyuk likely seeks more than twice that amount annually in a new deal.
Kittle believes Aiyuk deserves every penny he is asking for and can't imagine the 49ers offense without him.
"Aiyuk's just a phenomenal football player," Kittle told NFL insider Ian Rapoport during an interview on "The Insiders," per NFL.com. "He does everything you want him to do as a wide receiver, including taking touchdowns from me once in a while, which I'm totally OK with. But he's just such a dynamic receiver and he's just such a very important part of our offense.
"So, yes, getting Brandon Aiyuk the money that he deserves -- I hope nothing for the best for him. There's, unfortunately, not much that I can do to help put with that, except just cheer him on from the sidelines and hopefully we figure something out because he's one of my favorite teammates I've had."
Frustrated with the lack of progress at the negotiating table, Aiyuk requested a trade last week, signaling to the 49ers that if they do not intend to pay him, they should send him to a team that will. Aiyuk has had suitors this offseason, with several teams expressing interest in trading for and paying the receiver.
Aiyuk is coming off another impressive performance, racking up 1,342 receiving yards last season, his second consecutive season surpassing the 1,000-receiving-yard mark. He has proven to be the 49ers' top receiver and seeks to be paid accordingly.
"When there's a receiver who can run every single route, catch all the tough footballs, be open at the right time, but also grinds in the run game, blocks everybody you want him to -- you see all his highlights in the run game," Kittle continued. "When you have a guy that does all that type of stuff and just sets the tempo and sets the tone -- those guys are really important to your offense."