San Francisco 49ers star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk remained away from voluntary organized team activities (OTAs) as the pass-catcher angles for a new contract.
This comes after perceived issues between Aiyuk and the 49ers earlier in the offseason. In fact, he was bandied about in trade rumors leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft in April.
All the while, San Francisco’s brass continues to say all the right things publicly. They view Aiyuk as a core piece moving forward and want to lock him up on a new contract.
This recent report from ESPN’s Nick Wagoner adds a new layer to the entire situation.
“A deal doesn’t appear to be imminent, but the 49ers remain confident something will get done to keep Aiyuk for the long haul.”
Report on the San Francisco 49ers and Brandon Aiyuk
This has been the 49ers’ talking point throughout the entire process. The issues here are two-fold. San Francisco’s situation under the NFL salary cap moving forward is complicated. That’s especially true with quarterback Brock Purdy likely to become the league’s highest-paid player next offseason.
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Market dynamics also plays a role here. Aiyuk is said to be demanding a deal similar to what Amon-Ra St. Brown received from the Detroit Lions earlier in the offseason. That is to say, $30 million annually.
Several top-end wide receivers have already received extensions since the 2023 season came to a conclusion. Aiyuk, 26, is certainly in that category. He recorded 75 catches for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023. Purdy accumulated an otherworldly 124.0 QB rating when targeting the former first-round pick out of Arizona State.
As for the 49ers’ overall situation at wide receiver, they did lock up another important contributor on Wednesday. Multiple reports indicate that San Francisco has signed Jauan Jennings to a two-year deal worth up to $15.4 million.