The San Francisco 49ers continue to face standoffs with two key offensive players as training camp progresses. Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is seeking a contract extension or a trade and seems unwilling to play on the team-exercised fifth-year option that will pay him $14.124 million in 2024. While he reported to training camp, he has not participated in practices, standing firm in his "hold-in."
Meanwhile, tackle Trent Williams did not report to training camp and reportedly has no plans to do so without a restructured deal. Williams is signed through the 2026 season but has no guaranteed money left on his current contract. He has seen five offensive linemen surpass his annual salary since signing his six-year, $138.06 million extension in 2021.
Those hoping for a quick resolution to these situations might have to adjust their expectations. According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, both players remain steadfast in their standoffs with the 49ers.
Aiyuk has been watching from a golf cart during practices as quarterback Brock Purdy throws to other receivers. He was absent from Friday's practice, and when asked about any progress in the negotiations with the wideout, head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters, "No updates."
According to the coach, the status with Williams is the same.
"Williams, meanwhile, continues to hold out, and I'm told he has conviction on this," Fowler wrote in a feature for ESPN. "... I think that last bit was brought up to me to highlight that Williams is fairly comfortable waiting this out. We will find out how comfortable, though, as the $50,000 daily fines accrue. But Williams has made nearly $170 million in his career, and his outdated contract places him fifth among highest-paid left tackles."
Aiyuk and Williams' teammates understand the situation—dealing with the business side of football. Tight end George Kittle went through something similar in 2020 with his own contract extension.
"[Williams] is the best left tackle probably to ever play the game, so he'll be fine whenever he shows up," Kittle told Fowler when asked about pushing through camp without two key players. "BA, we'd love to have him out there, understand what he's going through. I don't know if it's hard for us to build our identity [without them], but what it does allow us to do is let these [other] guys take opportunities they would not have gotten if he was out there."
Fowler believes the 49ers will work something out with Williams before training camp concludes. The situation with Aiyuk is less clear.
"The receiver market ballooning into the $30 million neighborhood has complicated talks," Fowler wrote. "The 49ers have not shown a willingness to pay Aiyuk what he thinks he's worth, and negotiations hadn't intensified lately, last I had checked. With Aiyuk holding firm to his pay-me-or-trade-me stance, maybe those trade calls San Francisco is receiving will prove enticing at some point."
The 49ers have spent a lot of money on their star players in recent years. With quarterback Brock Purdy slated to become one of the NFL's highest-paid players next year, tough choices will eventually have to be made.
Fowler adds, "So the 49ers aren't just making a stand on the receiver market and Aiyuk's place in it. They are making difficult choices that could affect spending flexibility for future years."
