For a while, the hold in-trade demand situation with the 49ers and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk looked a lot like those of his teammates Deebo Samuel and Nick Bosa is prior years. With Samuel and Bosa, there seemed to be a lot of bluffs and posturing before a deal ultimately got done to keep the stars in place. Aiyuk’s situation has clearly become a different monster, especially within the media, requiring an update mere hours after our latest post. 
Disappointingly, the latest updates do not seem to indicate any more imminence in this situation coming to a close but, instead, provide a bit of additional information to previous reports.
For instance, we have seen the rumors connecting Aiyuk to the Patriots come and go already. Initial reports told us that the contract offer that would accompany a trade for Aiyuk would eclipse $28MM per year, a respectable amount but not one that challenges the top five contracts at the position. According to a combined report from Dianna Russini, Matt Barrows, and David Lombardi of The Athletic, the Patriots’ offer was actually potentially worth up to $32MM per year, matching Eagles wideout A.J. Brown as the second-highest paid receiver behind Justin Jefferson in Minnesota. Still, it’s become clear that a deal to New England is unlikely.
The Steelers, on the other hand, seem to have disappointed both the 49ers and Aiyuk with their offer, though Aiyuk doesn’t seem too turned off. The offer was reportedly less than what San Francisco was offering long-term, but Aiyuk still seems to prefer them as a destination. Pittsburgh doesn’t seem to feel pressed to improve their offer, though. According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, the Steelers have made their offer and intentions clear and are willing to let the pieces fall as they may. It’s been reported that the Niners prefer to receive a wide receiver back in any trade separating them from Aiyuk, and Pittsburgh certainly isn’t able to meet that request. Still, Aiyuk has reportedly made it clear that Pittsburgh is his preferred trade destination.
The Steelers aren’t the only preference, though. Garafolo also reported today that the 49ers asked Aiyuk to make a list of teams he would like to play for, and San Francisco was reportedly on that list. Developments like that could point to why negotiations to extend Aiyuk have reupped in San Francisco. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports that the 49ers have been working to raise their offer, after initially starting low.
For what it’s worth, Aiyuk himself weighed in on the situation, replying to a post on Instagram quoting Pelissero and saying, “It’s two options out there, pick one and stop dropping reports. Simple.” It’s hard to say what those two options are, exactly, but it can be ventured that the two options in play are an extension with the 49ers and a trade to and extension in Pittsburgh.
Aiyuk isn’t wrong. He has two options. Take the field, as he’s under contract to do so, or retire.
Exactly, make $14mil or head home. Call LeVeon and ask him how that worked out
I agree with you, and wish it was that cut and dry. Unfortunately San Francisco will want something for him and he will be rewarded for his bad behaviour with a trade and an extension.
Rewarded to the Patriots?
Tom Brady isn’t there anymore….
You forgot the third option…report to camp and complain of a tight hamstring. Then when you finally get that resolved, roll an ankle. Don’t kill yourself going over the middle. Collect 14 million from the 49ers and become a FA at seasons end. Also make sure that you’re a problem in the locker room and undermine the organization the whole season by talking poorly of your treatment by management to teammates and the media. Teams require volunteers not hostages. Why would you force him to play if he isn’t all in? I would rather have guys that want to be there. I’m a Seahawk so I find this all hilarious, but the honor your contract crowd in the NFL is just as funny. There is no such thing as contract honor. Teams cut players before the contract is up and players ask for more money when they feel the are out performing their deals. Guaranteed contracts is the way to end hold outs.
That scenario would absolutely torpedo his value. 0% chance anyone even remotely offers him top WR1 money if he does that. I say this as a non-49er fan too.
I’m not sure if that is true. Blowing out his knee playing on a deal that is half what other top WRs are making will torpedo his value for sure. Deshaun Watson’s antics with his contract, not just being the creepiest person in professional sports, didn’t scare off the Browns, even though he is also the creepiest person in professional sports. It only takes one team to give you the deal. If he gets hurt, then no teams will be interested.
So you’re suggesting he mail it in, smart. I’m sure that will Def get him the bag he is looking for
Again, he will also get no “bag” if he gets hurt going all in for a team that won’t pay him what he feels he is owed.
“Latest update: Aiyuk is eating breakfast. Half a grapefruit, scrambled eggs, wheat toast… no, this just in, it’s multigrain! Dry!”
So it wasn’t 28.5 from new England, it was way more. Dude needs to get over himself already, this is beyond ridiculous. Just make him hold out until he has to play. This long of a holdout worked really well for leveon bell
This is getting ridiculous. I wanna play for the pats, wait 28.5 isn’t enough. Oh they offered way more?
I only want to play for the steelers, they didn’t offer that much?
The niners have to up their offer. What’s next? Dude wants way too much, just trade him to the browns for Cooper and a 2nd. Straight diva.
That’s what I’m talking about. Why would you want him on the team at this point. Trade him for whatever you can get and move on. WR is a deep position. Some of his success is tied to the system he plays in and the fact that the 49ers have so many other weapons for a defense to cover. Other WRs will have similar results in those conditions. Peace out.
What a joke this whole situation is! So SF said “OK Brandon, here are some crayons. Now sit down and write out who you wanna play for and we’ll try out best to make it happen”. For real? This is pathetic! If I was John Lynch I’d be playing hard ball with this punk! YOU HAVEN’T ACCOMPLISHED ENOUGH TO BE THE HIGHEST PAID WR IN NFL! Sit him down and teach him a lesson! And this in a year where they are trying to finally win a SB. Glad to see that this is where their heads are to start a big year! GO LIONS!
Let this dummy sit out the year and not get paid. Worked well for Laveon Bell didn’t it? It’s not like the 49ers are lacking in talent. This clown is not in the class of Jefferson or Chase. In fact he’s not even in the same school. Here’s an idea. You signed a contract, play football and shut up.
He’s being completely unreasonable. He wants to reset the WR market just set and he’s not Justin Jefferson. He’s under team control and although many deals are done to lock in players after year four it’s by no means a given especially with his asking price. He requests a trade to a team that will pay him but when the Browns offer a deal that will return a wide receiver to replace at least some of his production plus a high draft pick knowing they have to pay him he turns it down? So basically he wants top of the market money and his choice or destination after four years of a five year rookie deal. It’s becoming absurd the whole way he’s gone about it. The problem that sucks for the 49ers is they’ve now got an upper tier WR who is disgruntled and knows when pushed to trade or pay was choosing trade. Not a good situation. It’s almost like they have to trade him now or meet his contract demands or he becomes a distraction all year. But the 49ers are all in this year they need an NFL WR maybe a notch under Aiyuk plus draft capital to make a deal work and Aiyuk just shot down what’s a difficult trade to make. My guess is Aiyuk is dead set on staying in SF while doing anything from social media to calling a meeting with SF brass to make that happen. He’s making a trade near impossible to get value from too not many guys like Amari Cooper like hearing they were dangled for a package to replace him so the Browns now have a very capable WR who probably doesn’t feel very comfortable where he is right now he’s human it may be a business but I get it. But I’d take less and move on from this guy this has gotten beyond out of hand
Brandon Aiyuk heading to Leveon Bell career wrecking territory and he’s barely got started. With a bit of an effort, Aiyuk can reach the team-derailing heights of Antonio Brown.
If 49er management cave now, they will be in the Dallas Cowboys black hole where they can’t pay the mid-tier core of the team because of the “stars”.