JULY 20: Following up on his Friday report regarding Aiyuk interest around the draft, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio notes the Patriots offered a second-round pick when first attempting to acquire the pending free agent. That was rejected, just as New England’s most recent overture was. With Aiyuk having now requested a trade, it will be interesting to see if the Patriots continue to make offers in the near future.
JULY 16: Brandon Aiyuk having not requested a trade during months-long negotiations with the 49ers separated this situation from the 2022 Deebo Samuel saga, but given the lack of progress on terms, it certainly did not seem out of the question Aiyuk would roll out a request to be moved. With a request coming Tuesday, outside interest has re-emerged.
Count the Patriots as a team that contacted the 49ers on Aiyuk. The AFC East club attempted to discuss Aiyuk with the 49ers, per veteran insider Josina Anderson. Unsurprisingly, the 49ers shut down the talks. San Francisco, as has been the case throughout these talks — with a bit of a hiccup during draft weekend — has maintained it would retain Aiyuk.
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Notably for this particular connection, the Patriots did discuss a receiver with the 49ers during the draft. Samuel, however, became New England’s focus between the first and second rounds. Other teams, like the Bills and Steelers, looked into Samuel as well. Nothing came of it, with John Lynch soon indicating the team was past trade talks involving its starting wide receivers. The trade talks having taken place, of course, would not close the book on the reigning NFC champions revisiting them.
The Patriots used the second round to add to their receiving corps, trading down and taking Washington’s Ja’Lynn Polk at No. 37. They then chose Central Florida’s Javon Baker at No. 110. The Pats, who made a strong push for Calvin Ridley, also added K.J. Osborn in free agency. This trio joins JuJu Smith-Schuster, Demario Douglas, former second-rounder Tyquan Thornton, Jalen Reagor and the recently re-signed Kendrick Bourne in a crowded cast — albeit one lacking a surefire No. 1 target — in New England.
It has long seemed the 49ers are preparing for one more run with their current group, with cost complications coming in 2025. Brock Purdy will be come extension-eligible next year, and George Kittle‘s contract runs through 2025 as well. San Francisco does not have Charvarius Ward, Deommodore Lenoir, Talanoa Hufanga or Dre Greenlaw signed beyond this season. Also unsigned beyond 2024, Aiyuk could be franchise-tagged next year. But the 49ers are well over the projected cap already. San Francisco sits with the NFL’s third-worst cap situation for 2025, being — months before the 2025 cap number emerges, at least — nearly $40MM over next year.
Aiyuk’s camp can use the impact a 2025 franchise tag number would have on the team to its advantage, but so far, the 49ers are holding their ground. A report earlier this offseason indicated the 49ers were not comfortable going into the $30MM-per-year range for Aiyuk, and The Athletic’s Dianna Russini notes the team is aiming to pay him in the $26-$27MM-per-year range. A subsequent meeting, requested by Aiyuk, did not bridge the value gap.
A deal between $26-$27MM per year checks in south of what Aiyuk wants, hence the trade request, and rumors have tied the fifth-year receiver to a price around Amon-Ra St. Brown‘s $30.01MM-AAV Lions accord. Aiyuk also has been tied to a guarantee aim beyond $80MM. That would stand to be the total guarantee ask, as only Justin Jefferson has secured more than $52MM fully guaranteed among WRs; the Vikings superstar landed $88.7MM at signing. Getting to $80MM guaranteed in total is a difficult request as well, as A.J. Brown ($84MM) is the only non-Jefferson receiver to clear that bar. St. Brown sits third for full guarantees among receivers, landing $77MM.
With Aiyuk’s 3,931 receiving yards 17th since 2020, it is understandable the 49ers are viewing the 2020 first-rounder — who has yet to be invited to a Pro Bowl event — as a non-$30MM-per-year player. The $26-$27MM AAV range would, however, put Aiyuk below where Jaylen Waddle ended up ($28MM per year, $76MM guaranteed) but higher than DeVonta Smith ($25MM, $69.99MM). That would seem a reasonable compromise, but Aiyuk did just lead a Super Bowl team in receiving by a wide margin. The 26-year-old weapon is attempting to capitalize.
A few of the 49ers’ big-ticket extensions have come to pass late in the summer. Kittle’s deal was finalized in July 2020, while Samuel held in an signed his extension in late July 2022. The Nick Bosa talks ran up to the 2023 season, but the sides reached a monster extension agreement last September.
The 49ers are disregarding Aiyuk’s trade request for the time being and will hope to complete an extension — one that moves Aiyuk from a fifth-year option salary ($14.1MM) to an agreement that makes him one of the NFL’s highest-paid wideouts — before the season begins. It will be interesting, of course, to see if a team tests the 49ers’ resolve with a big trade offer.
If they really want to deal em, could wait till season starts n see what WRs get injured throughout league. Go to a team who suffers loss of stud wideout early n has real SB aspirations. Someone will overpay for em. What’s asking price ? A #1 plus another pick ?
They won’t trade him for picks. That ship sailed on draft night. This is the last year with this core they would have traded him for a first in the draft a few months ago but no chance they trade him for someone that won’t play until fall of 2025. If a team is willing to trade a player that could help (Surtain?) it’s possible. But Aiyuk doesn’t have a ton of leverage here and the 49ers have zero reason to trade him for future picks.
They did just draft a receiver in the first round, and they’ll need cheap starters going forward, so they do have reason to trade him for picks. It just would have made a lot more sense to do that pre-draft.
They will do it pre draft. It’s just going to be spring of 25.
Yeah, you’re not going to get Aiyuk to sign for $3-4 million per year less than Amon-Ra St. Brown.
No disrespect to St. Brown-I actually personally think that he’s better. But I agree, I don’t think that Aiyuk or any other first or first-ish tier receiver would sign for less than the players that he views as his competition/on his level; at least, not in today’s environment.
Money doesn’t always bring happiness. He will have zero say in where he gets traded. They aren’t going to just let him walk like some people think is going to happen. He will get franchised and go to the highest bidder outside the division. Devonte Adams, for example, should have a heart to heart with BA.
“I got the money but I’m miserable in Vegas. You can take 27 million in SF and be with a winner or take the chance of being in NE, Carolina or Tennessee. That extra 3 million isn’t going to change your lifestyle.”
He’ll have a little say, because no one is going to trade much draft capital without knowing they can extend him.
Money money money. Tell his agent to talk to Washington brass. So he can play with his college teammate and best friend Jayden
I would be shocked if those feelers haven’t been put out yet; I know Aiyuk sort of has, not sure about the agent. They can’t contact the team without San Fran’s go ahead, of course, but I don’t know what Aiyuk’s limit would be regarding individual players. There is one, obviously, but I’m not sure what it is and I’m also sure that it has been circumvented in plenty (probably all) cases.
He was on a podcast couple weeks ago and named commanders and Steelers himself as possible teams of Niners didn’t come with a respectable bag. Tomlin is a hall of fame coach and they have a solid defense. Pair him with Pickens and they could be dangerous. Commanders is appealing because his boy Jayden is there also a veteran coach, McLaurin and Dotson lined up next to him an improve O line.
I could see him being Steeler
Same.
Buzz, the Steelers won’t pay that kind of money. Remember AB?
Yeah, that’s what I was referring as Aiyuk putting out feelers. Apparently he or Daniels said that they had spoken, as well. I don’t what his agent has done-which of course would possibly be tampering if it were discovered, depending on what was said.
Out of nowhere teams:
Tampa, Godwin is in a walk year. Chargers are light at WR, same for the Colts. Saints always believe they are oh so close every year!
A fun 3 team trade. Adams to the Jets, Aiyuk to Vegas, and the 9’ers wind up w/ the Jets 1st rounder next year.
I would have been flabbergasted had the Patriots not submitted an offer. The fact that the 9ers put this out seems to indicate a reluctance to accept an offer-or they’re possibly thinking that it was far too low. I lean towards the former-this seems like more a negotiating tactic with Aiyuk than a trade tactic with other teams. But you never know-any team can change your mind at any time.
Bucs not trading for diva wr when they have the two best behaved. Godwin last time played on the 1 year tagged, tore all, but still able to get a deal. He probably could have gotten more from a team by holding out some. Evans never gives them a problem signed early this FA before all the big money was handed out.
Everyone wants to fleece Tepper the way the Bears and Giants have…lol. Thielen is the only reliable WR is Carolina so the 49ers are bidding their time waiting for the call.
Ego move. Let the dust settle. Vision will be better. Not the best move to quibble over a few million. He can recoup in sponsorships
Aiyuk has no leverage! He’s under contract and there’s no way he risks delaying his payday another year by sitting out. So tired of these young players with a couple years in the league demanding trades and extensions before their rookie contract is up. If Purdy gets knocked for being surrounded by all-pros, why is Aiyuk not? You really think Aiyuk puts up as good of numbers without CMAC, Deebo, and kittle as targets around him? He wasn’t nearly as good when a QB not named Purdy was throwing to him. Play out your contract.
Yeah, he would put up better numbers because he would have more targets. He ranked 7th in receiving yards and 36th in targets. Plus, the 49ers ranked 32nd in passes attempted last year. He had to share the love with the least amount of chances. Both sides need to get off their high horses and just meet in the middle at about 28 million a year.
I don’t get why yall keep quoting florio, who isn’t reliable, when schefter and the niners themselves said he isn’t getting traded
Hes gonna be a Patriot
2nd round pick that’s basically guaranteed to be in the 30’s and get out of 25-30 per year. Deebo mccafrey kittle. and persall is a YAC monster