Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
Brandon Aiyuk sparked speculation on Monday, turning what would have been an otherwise slow news day into something more intriguing. The San Francisco 49ers wide receiver seemingly expressed frustration with current contract extension negotiations, telling former Arizona State teammate Jayden Daniels, now with the Washington Commanders, "They said they don't want me back ... I swear."
Aiyuk posted the strategically edited clip to social media.
Understandably, this became the most prominent 49ers-related topic of the day as fans await a resolution to the contract standoff.
Matt Barrows of The Athletic weighed in on this latest development, interpreting it as a player's frustration.
"Aiyuk is frustrated over ongoing contract negotiations and is taking to social media to express that frustration," Barrows wrote in a recent column. "That's the best explanation for his 'they don't want me' message to Daniels and it follows other cryptic comments and musings he's posted during the offseason."
While Aiyuk may not like the leisurely pace of the negotiations, the 49ers' approach fits with the team's track record. San Francisco has typically waited until closer to training camp to sign their stars to contract extensions and has gone through this process for five consecutive offseasons.
Oh, and next year will be quarterback Brock Purdy's turn, when he will likely become one of the highest-paid players in NFL history.
Michael Silver of the San Francisco Chronicle recently reported that the 49ers' last offer to Aiyuk was likely in the $26 million-a-year range, seemingly less than market value. If the team is standing firm on that number, Aiyuk may perceive that as a lack of interest in securing him for the foreseeable future.
"We can probably infer that the 49ers don't want Aiyuk back — at least at the price he's demanding," Barrows continued. "Remember that San Francisco has leverage here because Aiyuk is already under contract for $14.1 million in 2024. The team can also franchise tag Aiyuk to hold onto him beyond that."
Aiyuk skipped the 49ers' mandatory minicamp earlier this month, subjecting himself to hefty fines but sending a strong signal to the team that he is unhappy with their current stance on his contract negotiations.
Nobody's perfect. Did you find a mistake in this article? Report it.
Comments
Do not use the comments to notify us of errors in the article. Editors may not see it. Instead, report errors here.
More San Francisco 49ers News
Former NFL GM explains why 49ers have leverage in Brandon Aiyuk negotiations, predicts final outcome
By Kirk Larrabee
Jun 27
Former NFL general manager Randy Mueller provided an in-depth analysis of the Brandon Aiyuk contract negotiations on Thursday, detailing why the 49ers have more leverage than Aiyuk and why he thinks the eventual outcome will be positive for both sides.
In an article published...
NFL insider sums up the 49ers and Brandon Aiyuk situation perfectly
By David Bonilla
Jun 24
The situation between the San Francisco 49ers and their star wide receiver, Brandon Aiyuk, has generated significant speculation. Aiyuk is seeking a contract extension after watching several of his peers secure lucrative deals this offseason. Aiyuk is set to earn $14.124...
Tom Pelissero: WR Brandon Aiyuk's meeting with 49ers described as "good," says there's been no trade request
By Marc Adams
Jun 26
Fans of the San Francisco 49ers are getting tired of hearing about the drama between wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and the 49ers. The star receiver is trying to negotiate a new contract with the team that would keep him with the 49ers for years to come. But so far, negotiations...
49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk announces his arrival at Levi's Stadium on Friday
By Marc Adams
Jun 28
On Friday morning, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk announced on social media that he is at Levi's Stadium. In the video, shared by Coach Yac on Twitter/X, Aiyuk is seen approaching the stadium. He appears to be in a good mood. Could this be an indication that a...
