The defending NFC West champion San Francisco 49ers have some major decisions to make as the offseason continues.
One apparently has already been made. Speaking to the media from the site of the NFL owners meetings in Arizona on Monday, 49ers general manager John Lynch indicated that they’ll pick up the fifth-year option on wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk’s contract for the 2024 season.
This is in no way a surprise. A first-round pick of the 49ers back in 2020, Aiyuk is coming off a breakout 2022 campaign for San Francisco. He recorded 78 receptions for 1,015 yards and eight touchdowns while hauling in 68% of his targets.
If exercised, the 2024 option on Aiyuk’s rookie deal will cost $14.1 million. According to ESPN’s Nick Wagoner, this has led to teams actually calling San Francisco up about trading for the star young receiver. At this point, San Francisco has no real interest in moving Aiyuk.
Coming off two consecutive NFC Championship Game appearances, it makes very little sense for San Francisco to move off one of its most-important weapons. However, there is certainly a question about whether the 49ers can afford to sign Aiyuk long-term.
Related: San Francisco 49ers free agency grade
San Francisco 49ers salary cap situation and star players
It was just last offseason that San Francisco inked fellow wide receiver Deebo Samuel to a three-year, $71.55 million contract extension. He’s set to count a whopping $28.57 million against the cap in 2024.
This means San Francisco would be paying out nearly $43 million two its two receivers should Aiyuk’s option be picked up and the two sides fail to come to terms on an extension.
Simply put, it’s not sustainable in the grand scheme of things. Following the surprise signing of former Philadelphia Eagles Pro Bowl defensive tackle Javon Hargrave earlier in free agency, the San Francisco 49ers have several players among the five highest-paid at their positions in the NFL.
- Christian McCaffrey, running back
- George Kittle, tight end
- Trent Williams, left tackle
- Javon Hargrave, defensive tackle
- Fred Warner, linebacker
This doesn’t even take into account the record-breaking contract extension reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa is slated to sign during the offseason.
It’s in this that teams doing their due diligence on a potential Brandon Aiyuk trade were being smart. In no way does that mean something is going to happen this offseason. San Francisco is in win-now mode. Moving off its most consistent receiver isn’t going to happen.