Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has unfollowed the San Francisco 49ers on Instagram. Is it time for the fanbase to panic? Probably not. NFL players have made similar moves in comparable contract negotiation situations, such as Deebo Samuel's actions in 2022. However, in Samuel's case, the offseason drama escalated to the point that he requested a trade.
So far, no such request has been made by Aiyuk or his representatives—that we know of.
While Aiyuk has unfollowed the 49ers on Instagram (h/t Jose Sanchez of SI), he continues to follow the team on X (formerly Twitter).
Let the contract games begin. Brandon Aiyuk has unfollowed the #49ers on Instagram. pic.twitter.com/hzVRLXRZeF
— Clayton Holloway (@HollowayNFLN) April 12, 2024
Aiyuk is under contract through the upcoming season, set to earn $14.124 million on a team-exercised fifth-year option. Ideally, both sides would prefer to reach a long-term deal before the receiver returns to the field.
Last month, general manager John Lynch told reporters that the 49ers are "actively talking" with Aiyuk—or his representatives—indicating that securing a long-term deal with their star player is a priority.
"There's a number of different directions that it could go, but we appreciate the heck out of Brandon and who he is as a player," Lynch said. "We want him to be a part of the Niners, so we're going to work towards making that a reality."
Lynch added, "We're talking with his guys, trying to talk about some parameters of some things. I'm not going to get into [the details]. I never do. But we're having discussions, and that's a good thing."
Despite swirling trade rumors, the 49ers maintain that no significant discussions with other teams have occurred.
"I promise you, nothing's going on there," Lynch affirmed.
During a recent appearance on "The Nightcap" podcast, Aiyuk stated, "I'm trying to get what I deserve. "I feel like this season, this season playing football, I figured out who I was as a person and a player—what I bring to the table, what I bring to the locker room, what I bring to the organization."
