Brandon Aiyuk trade rumors have come in steadily during the week, as the wide receiver’s hold-in continues. But the 49ers still employ the veteran; and they are not giving up on their original 2024 goal here.
San Francisco has resumed efforts in recent days to hammer out a long-term deal with Aiyuk, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo report. This renewed pursuit of an extension — one the 49ers have been trying to complete for months — has not nixed the possibility of a trade entirely, as the NFL.com duo indicates the Steelers join other teams in still being in the mix. A July report pegged at least five teams as interested in a trade; a few have since revealed themselves.
But Aiyuk-49ers buzz gaining steam represents rare progress in a situation that has produced a trade request and a hold-in that has lasted for two-plus weeks. The 49ers are pushing for a deal, Pelissero adds, with CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones indicating some optimism has emerged Aiyuk and the 49ers will reach an agreement. While it is clear movement is taking place, Jones couches this by noting this is still a fluid situation.
This latest chapter stems from a recent sitdown between Aiyuk, Kyle Shanahan and others in the organization, according to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz. This marks the second notable meeting during this extended negotiating chapter for the 49ers, as Aiyuk requested a meeting to clear the air in June. The previous summit did not lead to this long-formed value gap closing, producing the July trade request.
It is certainly possible the increased trade rumors, which have involved Aiyuk’s camp talking to teams, have moved the 49ers’ price point. The Patriots were believed to be willing to go higher than the 49ers in terms of AAV, proposing an extension that would have come in beyond $28.5MM. Reports out of San Francisco have produced a $26-$27MM 49ers value on their 2023 receiving leader. Aiyuk has targeted a figure beyond Amon-Ra St. Brown‘s $30.01MM-per-year deal and a guarantee in A.J. Brown territory. With D.J. Moore‘s Bears deal nearly matching the Eagles’ Brown guarantee ($84MM-$82.6MM), Aiyuk stands to have more ammo in this battle.
As discussed in our most recent Trade Rumors Front Office piece, the 49ers playing hardball with Aiyuk could undercut them at a crucial point. The team not only has Brock Purdy in what is likely the final year of a seventh-round contract, but four defensive starters — Dre Greenlaw, Charvarius Ward, Deommodore Lenoir, Talanoa Hufanga — are in walk years. Trent Williams, who is holding out, is also going into his age-36 season. Pieces are in place for another 49ers Super Bowl run, but Aiyuk’s drama could throw a wrench into this operation.
Trade framework with the Patriots and Browns emerged, but Aiyuk was not believed to be interested in being dealt to New England. Not much has come out of the Cleveland component in these layered negotiations, but Pittsburgh is believed to be waiting on San Francisco. That said, the 49ers and Aiyuk have expressed some degree of disappointment in the Steelers’ extension and trade offers, respectively. The Athletic’s Dianna Russini adds the Steelers have not engaged with the 49ers in the past 24 hours regarding Aiyuk.
The 49ers are believed to want a veteran wide receiver — something the Steelers, absent a George Pickens sweetener, do not appear to possess — or vets at other spots as part of a trade package. Draft capital would obviously not help this San Francisco team, potentially leading to the holdup. Though, the 49ers drove a hard bargain during Aiyuk talks on draft weekend by asking for a mid-first-round pick.
While these proceedings could again careen off the rails, this flood of reports about progress certainly pries the door back open to a long-term Aiyuk Bay Area future. This would stand to affect Deebo Samuel‘s post-2024 future, but as the 49ers attempt to capture an elusive Shanahan-era championship, a window remains open to their skill-position armada staying together for another year.
49ers trying to gain some leverage back.
49ers have always had all the leverage. Aiyuk is on his 5th year option with the possibility of franchise tags behind it. Only thing Aiyuk could do is not play and not collect $14+mil. The 49ers were simply gauging the market to see if there was another option to get rid of a guy that is being difficult but they weren’t going to except pennies on the dollar
Having Aiyuk sit out and getting nothing out of him would be a disastrous outcome for a win now team. And they can’t realistically franchise him next year.
Oooof, the title of all your takes.
Can’t realistically franchise him? The tag is worth less than what Aiyuk wants annually.
As long as Aiyuk sits, SF controls his NFL destiny.
Despite the bogus report here, SF is not looking for a player in a trade, they only wants picks, so they are absolute comfortable with the other receivers they have.
9ers called Aiyuks bluff and forced him back to the table.
Aiyuk has no leverage. He never did.
The tag comes with zero flexibility. Long term deals do.
And long term flexibility has what to do with the “realistic ability” to tag him next year? They can tag him twice, and still sign him to a deal. The tag doesn’t make him ineligible for an extension.
One bad take after another.
No, the tag gives him a fully guaranteed lump sum. The lack of flexibility is short term.
I’m sorry I’m not buying for one second that a team that is the betting favorite to win the Super Bowl in what is the last year with this core before the cap gets bad is going to be willing to move one of their best players and not get anybody back to help the team this year. That ship sailed after the first round this past year according to every person I have read talking about the situation. The Cleveland deal makes sense for everyone. But now Aiyuk is saying he doesn’t want to go there. Starting to think he may just stay in SF after all.
Oooof works for the NFLPA, his job is to hype up the value of every player, every free agent, and write “pay the man” under every post.
I’d rather pay top money to top guys than pay middle money to the Darnell Mooneys and Curtis Samuels.
Aiyuk has the leverage and has had the leverage once they allowed him to seek a trade and contract. Dumbest thing the 49ers could have done.
The Niners allowed him to seek a contract that he liked but it never gave him the leverage. The Niners still need to be compensated fairly from said team and it hasn’t happened. The only leverage Aiyuk has is he won’t sign an extension with a team he doesn’t like which still puts him in the situation to play for $14mil or go home with nothing
Not really. Allowing him to seek a trade and new deal could possibly show him what other teams are willing to pay him. SF can then match.
He’s under contract. Let him continue throwing a temper tantrum
The player has ZERO leverage… that’s the point though right? BA is playing the only card he has- the team doesn’t really have to do anything but wait. It’s obvious that the player doesn’t have the value he thinks he has or a deal with an extension with a lucrative contract would have happened by now. No, Aiyuk has no leverage and will be in a position to take whatever action the 49ers want to take. As a Niner fan- launch his butt if he doesn’t want to be there. Team before me.
Niners allowed Aiyuk to 1) negotiate with teams he had ZERO interest in playing for and negotiate with Pittsburgh who the niners have no interest in trading with. Aiyuk meets Rock and Hard place. Anyone who thinks niners have screwd up or thinks aiyuk has leverage are ignorant. Ball is in his court. Ball has no air in it. He now knows that his contract desires are PIE IN THE SKY. Aiyuk has leverage? wow
Dumb? You’re first in line sir.
Nobody used the word dumb. Try again.
“dumbest thing the niners could have done”. Dumb-est. TJECK post.
If they were really only a couple mil off his asking price, maybe they can get this done after all. If they were going to trade him, they would have been so much better off doing it before the draft that it might be hard for them to strike a deal they can stomach, especially with Aiyuk functionally being able to nix a trade by not agreeing to an extension.
Trade him. I like trades.
If the forty niners haven’t signed him yet, I believe this is just trying to put a little more pressure on the Steelers to up the ante. We’ll see who blinks first. Personally, I think his days in San Fran are over.