The contract status between the San Francisco 49ers and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has been a topic of intense discussion this offseason. As the team prepares to kick off training camp tomorrow, Thomas Valentine of Pro Football Focus looked at one move every NFC team must make before camps begin. For the 49ers, that is either paying Aiyuk or trading him.
"The big news around the NFL is that Brandon Aiyuk requested a trade from the San Francisco 49ers after the two parties have been unable to agree on a long-term contract extension," Valentine wrote. "Simply put, Aiyuk deserves to be paid. The former first-round pick earned a career-high 92.3 PFF overall grade in 2023 and caught 75 passes for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns in the regular season."
The wide receiver market has exploded this offseason, with several high-profile deals setting new benchmarks. Four NFL receivers now earn $30 million or more annually. Aiyuk is reportedly seeking a deal that will add his name to that group, while the 49ers' last offer was around $26 million annually.
Aiyuk sent a strong message to the 49ers by skipping the team's mandatory minicamp last month, subjecting himself to approximately $100,000 in fines. More fines will follow if he skips training camp.
San Francisco is gearing up to make quarterback Brock Purdy one of the NFL's highest-paid players next year. The team also has several key players entering the final years of their deals.
"Paying Aiyuk is a tricky task for the 49ers, who have limited cap space and significant money tied up in some big-name deals," Valentine commented. "However, if there's a way to do it, San Francisco must pull the trigger or risk losing Aiyuk."
The 49ers' front office faces a critical decision as training camp looms. They want to keep Aiyuk on the roster for the foreseeable future but must balance that desire with the financial constraints of the salary cap.
