The San Francisco 49ers roster is loaded with more All-Pro players and future Hall of Famers than just about any other team in the NFL. While rookie-scale contracts for the likes of Brandon Aiyuk, Brock Purdy and Talanoa Hufanga have allowed that to work, it might not last for much longer.
Aiyuk has been one of the best wide receivers in the NFL this season. Entering NFL games today, the 49ers’ leading pass-catcher has the 10th-most receiving yards in the league. Among all wide receivers with 30-plus catches, he leads the NFL in yards per catch (17.7) and is the only player with 600-plus receiving yards and fewer than 40 receptions.
- Brandon Aiyuk stats 2023: 35 receptions, 620 receiving yards, 17.7 yards per catch, 30 first downs
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Once in the proverbial doghouse for head coach Kyle Shanahan, Aiyuk is trending toward becoming an All-Pro wide receiver. However, while he’s an essential part of the 49ers’ offense, his future in San Francisco seems a bit uncertain beyond this season.
- Brandon Aiyuk contract: $3.98 million cap hit in 2023, $14.124 million cap hit in 2024, 2024 NFL FA
ESPN’s Dan Graziano explained why Aiyuk could be an NFL trade candidate in the 2024 offseason. Highlighting the 49ers’ situation, the NFL insider focused on the trend of salaries exploding for the highest-paid NFL receivers. While San Francisco will pursue a contract extension with its newest star, Graziano believes Aiyuk “could potentially be a trade candidate in the offseason” if the two sides can’t agree on a long-term deal.
San Francisco 49ers cap space by year
- 2024: $1.479 million
- 2025: $45.929 million
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There’s some merit to the point being raised. Even with Brock Purdy still the lowest-paid starting quarterback in the NFL, San Francsico has less than $2 million in projected cap space next offseason. While more room can be made, Chase Young and Javon Kinlaw are free agents in 2024 while Arik Armstead and Charvarius Ward will then hit the open market in 2025.
The 49ers also have to think about the future, especially since linebacker Fre Warner and Dre Greenlaw’s contracts expire after the 2024 season. Beyond them, Drake Jackson, George Kittle and Purdy could all be in line for contract extensions.
San Francisco has enjoyed the benefit of building the most talented roster in the NFL thanks to a starting quarterback making below the NFL’s veteran minimum salary. With cap hits for Deebo Samuel, Nick Bosa and Trent Williams increasing dramatically in the next two years, however, some difficult decisions will need to be made next offseason and beyond.