In on Calvin Ridley until the end of his free agency sweepstakes, the Patriots have been connected to both Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk. New England’s Aiyuk effort became rather serious, though as of midday Wednesday, it does not look like the disgruntled 49er will end up a Patriot.
This is not due to lack of desire on the Pats’ part. The team was prepared to give Aiyuk an extension worth more than $28.5MM per year, according to veteran NFL reporter Josina Anderson. Aiyuk does not hold a no-trade clause, but a team willing to trade assets for the second-team All-Pro will want the pass catcher committed. A report Tuesday night revealed Aiyuk was not sold on the Patriots, and Anderson also indicates the team believes this is the case.
The Steelers do not make a habit of giving outside receiver hires key roles, preferring a draft-and-develop model that has produced sustained success. But the team has been more open to outside additions under third-year GM Omar Khan. Questions outside of George Pickens persist at wideout for the Steelers, who are spending next to nothing at quarterback following the acquisitions of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. This expands to all positions on offense, essentially, with no eight-figure-per-year payment allocated to a Pittsburgh offensive player.
No deal is in place with Pittsburgh, Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz tweets, though the sides continue to hold discussions.
Aiyuk, 26, has held in at 49ers training camp. This comes after months of negotiations did not lead to much (if any) progress. Aiyuk has been tied to wanting a deal in step with Amon-Ra St. Brown‘s $30.01MM-per-year contract and guarantees on the A.J. Brown level. Only Justin Jefferson‘s $110MM guaranteed tops Brown’s number ($84MM). Aiyuk has not shown himself to be in these players’ class just yet, ranking 17th in receiving yards since his 2020 NFL entrance. Though, the 49ers’ target tree has not allowed for WR1-level volume. Aiyuk still managed 1,342 receiving yards on 105 targets last season, and he wants to be paid like a high-end No. 1 weapon.
A Monday report indicated the Patriots and Browns had established Aiyuk trade framework with the 49ers, but multiple suitors being in the mix gives the defending NFC champions leverage. New England also asked about Aiyuk earlier this offseason. Aiyuk’s manageable fifth-year option salary ($14.12MM) would stand to buy the 49ers time, and they would have the option of franchise-tagging him in 2025. That number could hit $25MM, and San Francisco is already projected to be nearly $40MM over the 2025 cap. While that would not make an Aiyuk tag a non-starter, it certainly appears the 49ers are more willing to discuss a deal — as they were during the draft — compared to their stance earlier this summer.
The Titans outbid the Pats for Ridley, who signed a four-year deal worth $92MM in free agency. New England, amid a spree of re-signings and extensions this offseason, kept Kendrick Bourne and used a second-round pick on Washington’s Ja’Lynn Polk. These two join Demario Douglas as the Pats’ top options at receiver, though JuJu Smith-Schuster remains on the team for the time being. De facto GM Eliot Wolf has shown a far greater willingness to pay for talent compared to Bill Belichick, and this Aiyuk offer goes along with this organizational change.
Trading Aiyuk without a known replacement — Ricky Pearsall‘s rookie-year form notwithstanding — would inject considerable risk into San Francisco’s equation. The team has Brock Purdy on what almost definitely will be his final season on a rookie contract, and a host of defensive talent is due for free agency in 2025. Losing Aiyuk now would wound a 49ers team perennially on the championship doorstep. It would also reveal the NFC West team taking a hardline stance on Aiyuk’s value, which it is believed to have pegged in the $26-$27MM-per-year range.
While the 49ers solved Samuel’s trade request/hold-in drama with a $23.85MM-per-year extension, they have encountered tougher sledding in the Aiyuk negotiations — as the WR market has boomed once again. If Aiyuk is dealt, Samuel suddenly would appear more likely to stay. An Aiyuk extension could well lead the older, more versatile player out of town in 2025. We continue to wait on whether the 49ers will pull the trigger here, as Aiyuk’s hold-in will soon pass the two-week point.
At this point it’s obviously not about being top paid WR so the 49ers should just make him an offer a little bit lower than the Patriots
Aiyuk shouldn’t turn down $28.5M pr yr. Sounds like he’s being a little too picky and wants to play for PITTS. He won’t get good stats with NE, but at least he’ll get paid, which is what is all about, right? SF won’t care what he gets paid, but more about the return for Aiyuk for them.
it depends on the guaranteed money. AAV’s are pretty meaningless in the NFL with the guaranteed money to back it up .
Why should he accept a well below average for his position? $35 is going rate for a legit WR1.
Because he won’t get it. The 17th ranked receiver from last year does not command $35 a year. He is going to suck in NE or PIT. When I say suck he is not going to put up the numbers he thinks and not the numbers worth 28 million plus a year. Neither place has a clear number one QB.
He’ll get $30+m. NE went in below market value.
Explain to me why he’d suck in Pittsburgh??
Aiyuk has not shown himself to be in these players’ class just yet, ranking 17th in receiving yards since his 2020 NFL entrance.
Why would you be measuring it by last four seasons? Of course his rookie year would set him behind guys who were already in their primes. If you just go over the last two seasons, he’s seventh, and that’s in a very low volume passing offense.
Why do you care what the article says? He finished 7th last year. Still not 35 million a year totals. Why did the Vikings pay JJ what they did? Not because of what he did last year but what he is capable of which is more that Aiyuk.
4 year totals
JJ
392 catches
5899 yards
30 TDs
BA
269 catches
3931 yards
25 TDs
Oh yeah JJ did it in less games. But yeah let’s give the player with less stats more money.
Based on the last two years BA is only higher than JJ IN tds but he also played six more games.
Where does it say he wants Jefferson money? There’s a lot of room between $35 million and $28 million. It says he wants St. Brown money.
@Slappy, stacking the argument with comparing Ayuik to the best start to a career by a WR in NFL history is disingenuous. That would be like saying no QB should get paid big money because they aren’t Mahomes.
It makes sense because a better offer than the $28.5 million per would solidly be in Jefferson territory. Aiyuk isn’t the only receiver to do this-Hill and Lamb were in similar situations just last week (and Lamb still is).
Every top tier receiver will be, because they all want to be the highest paid or very close to it. In Hill’s case, he can make the argument that he is close to or has exceeded Jefferson’s production, so it commands a similar price. Lamb doesn’t have as good an argument, but he is close to the top, and will probably get that type of money. Aiyuk doesn’t really match up with those players’ production when it comes down to it, so demanding that type of money makes less sense. Simply put, the comparison os necessary because it seems like, if Aiyuk is turning down the Pats’ offer due to the amount offered, that he is demanding Jefferson type money without Jefferson type production.
Personally, I think that $28.5 million is a very good offer for a WR1 type player, and definitely allows more room for a player to contend than $35 million per. It’s up to Aiyuk what he wants, and maybe he just doesn’t want to play for NE. But, at the end of the day, you have to pick from thd offers that teams make. In Aiyuk’s case, he needs to remember that these teams have to trade for him, as well-so, really, that’s part of the cost here, and should be considered alongside the salary itself. Aiyuk is a top wideout, but not THE top wideout, and his cost of acquisition plus his salary will reflect that. If this is just a case of getting to his preferred team, the reality is that that team might not be able or willing to devote the enormous compensation package in the forms of picks plus salary needed to finally get him on board. He’ll have to take what the Steelers (or anybody else) are comfortable sending.
28 puts him in a range with Waddle. St. Brown got 30. Again, 35 is a big chunk of change more.
Yeah, you’re right. I’ll amend my statement-it puts him in undisputed WR1 territory. But all of those guys you mentioned as ahead are fairly top five range receivers, depending on how you consider them. Aiyuk is in that range in my estimation. It’s no insult. Most importantly, though, none of those guys had to also be traded for. Fairly or not for Aiyuk, whomever offers him more will also have to give up a decent pick as well to acquire him.
I think you can make a strong case he’s as good as St. Brown, but they’re in very different roles and situations. St. Brown hasn’t had any other very productive receivers around him and has been fed a ton of short targets while mostly playing out of the slot. Aiyuk has been a true X receiver who’s been highly productive despite playing in a low volume passing attack with multiple other stars.
Like I said, they’re all in the same range. But St. Brown didn’t have to be traded for by the team that extended him. Roles aside, that has to be some factor in this decision. I don’t doubt that there are teams are willing to pay up, but not willing to make a trade, and vice versa. For New England’s part, I can’t imagine that they’re not weighing the value of the pick for a rebuilding team in addition to the value of the contract itself.
Sure, but Aiyuk can go to the open market soon if you don’t satisfy him with an offer. This feels most similar to the AJ Brown situation, other than it happening post draft, and Brown got a lot more than Tennessee was offering, even after returning a first and a third.
That’s true as well. Paying for the privilege, as it were.
The value of his receptions is what counts! Not the number! Pay the man!
Pats are focusing on the wrong disgruntled 49’ers have they should try and get Trent Williams to give Maya some kinda of protection on the o-line
Trade for him give him a 3yr deal (pay him what he’s asking) then draft a LT next yr then slide him (Trent) over to RT they can’t afford to get Maye hurt and ruin any chances he truly is a franchise player p-line should be their number one priority
I’m not to worried about a wr they have a few that look good so far
Yeah I’m sure the Niners would be falling over themselves to trade the best tackle in the league for players from the Patriots garbage roster or future picks that won’t help them this year. You realize they are the betting favorite to win the Super Bowl? Why would they even consider that. On top of the fact that if they even were dumb enough to do that he would just retire as opposed to play for the laughingstock Patriots. Seriously though how is life on fantasy island?
You keep getting super mad that anyone suggest trading Williams, but mcase only suggested that the Patriots try. Nobody is disputing that Williams is the best tackle in the league. In fact, that’s why people are suggesting that he be traded for. Top players who want a lot of money get traded all the time if the team can’t afford them, or isn’t willing to.
I do not think that Williams is on the trade block, either, but I certainly don’t find the notion offensive or completely impossible. That’s more because I don’t think any team will, despite Williams’ talent, offer enough at his age to make it worth it for the 9ers. If he rejects all of their offers after the Aiyuk situation is dealt with, though, would that position change? It has in the past with other players. So, no, I actually don’t think you’re wrong at all. But I don’t think that you should treat the idea as impossible or blasphemous.
Alright well you took the time to write all that out and I agree almost exclusively with everything you said. So I will tone down my shock and disgust when people suggest the idea. I don’t mind meeting people halfway haha
Fair enough. Thank you, I do agree overall. Thanks for hearing me out.
so what exactly is the return of 36 year old offensive tackle? I get that he’s still performing at a high level but by the time the pats are ready to contend there’s a good chance Williams will have retired
It’s not about contending now it’s about protecting Maye and hoping Trent will mentor a young talent over the next few years as for a package give them Judon and a 3rd or Bourne and a 2nd reports say the love Bourne and in need of pass rusher so either one would help them
Also who’s to say Trent will play if still holding out nothing says he won’t sit out at the start of the season
it makes zero sense for the pats in the midst of a rebuild to trade for a 36 year old left tackle on the way out.
Clearly you don’t get it YOU NEED established o-line to protect Maye so he doesn’t get injured what don’t you get and having the best tackle in the game how does that not help the future it protects ur franchise and he’s teaches the rookies how to do it at his level
As for a players prospective ya they don’t want to go to a rebuilding franchise but lucky in the nfl money is more important then championship to most of them
I get it just fine. What you DON’T get is that Maye most likely isn’t starting this season so it makes zero sense at this point to add a 36 year old OL who won’t be around for when it’s time for Drake to start playing a regular work load. The pats need young talent not a guy on the back 9. Also it’s the coaches job to teach players at the next level not Trent Williams.
Yeah, he’s a fringe #1. On half the teams in the league he’s a clear 2.
Shanahan wetting himself in both Super Bowl opportunities might go down in infamy. Purdy is about to get a MASSIVE raise, half the starting D will be potential FAs next year, Ayuk wants to be overpaid. The cap situation will soon be a nightmare for the 49ers. Also, Purdy puts them in a real rough spot. We all saw how ordinary Purdy was without his full arsenal of weapons. He became mid, very clearly. Do you want to pay 40 mil + a year in valuable cap space for a middle of the road starting QB?
I think we’ll look back at this window as a wasted opportunity for Lynch/Shanahan. Of course, they’d be in the midst of a Dynasty right now had they drafted Mahomes instead of Solomon F’n Thomas and overvaluing Jimmy G. The Lance debacle is too embarrassing to even bring up.
I am just as sick of Aiyuk’s belly-aching as much as the next guy, but he is among the best route runners in the sport, and a top 15 WR in the league. His dominance is lost because SF just so happens to have the game’s best trio of RB, TE, and WR1 (Deebo). Put Aiyuk in New England or Pittsburgh and then you will see him differently.
He would be #1 on well more than half the teams in the league.
Lol I dk if blind people should comment on how good someone really is. And I’m not making fun of you for being blind, just assuming you must be if you think this guy is good enough to be WR1 on more than like 5 of the worst teams in the league
If you think he would only be the best wide receiver on a handful of teams you’re just way off the mark.
It’s closer to 5 than 15. He’s very good not great. If he gets defended like a number 1 things will change a lot for him too. I can assure you defenses were more focused on CMC Kittle and Deebo and he was often defended that way. I like the guy a lot and as a 49ers fan I’m sad that it has come to this. But you are overstating how good he is.
I think you’re understating how good he is. There aren’t that many receivers definitively better than him in the NFL, even with the limits on what he’s been able to show, given all the mouths to feed.
It would be hard for him to put up the same numbers in another team when he’s putting them up as the 3rd or 4th best option his team. Think we can all agree Deebo and CMC are better so let’s call him the number 3. He goes somewhere like NE he becomes the number one meaning the defense is planning specifically against him. No way he puts up the same numbers he does in SF
I don’t think you can call the guy the number three when he’s getting easily the most targets and is filling a totally different role. His average depth of target is six yards longer than Deebo’s. He helps open up the offense for their shorter range weapons. Given how little SF passes, one would think he might put up bigger numbers in a higher volume passing attack.
You are really going out of your way to cherry pick here. A few teams would be in the midst of a dynasty had they not passed on mahomes. How about the bills for starters who traded down with the chiefs.
If niners draft mahomes at 3rd, then you could make a strong case that all of their other draft picks the last 7 years would be different also. Like bosa and deebo in 2019. Niners needs change, and so do their picks.
I can’t believe you are just going to blindly ignore lynch and shanahan drafting fred warner, dre greenlaw, deebo samuel, hufanga, jennings, mckivitz and purdy but then roast them for lance and mahomes.
Get the hell out of here you clown.
31 teams every year have a wasted opportunity
Bryzzo you sure like to cherry pick what benefits your foolish narrative. Funny how everyone around the league thinks they have done such an amazing job. Only clowns/trolls in comment sections say stuff like this. Teams miss on guys all the time but look at their strike rate in the 4th round or later. That is the sign of a great scouting and development department out of Kyle and Lynch. You really need to get a clue and stop embarrassing yourself.
Yeah, I’m no 49ers fan, but I’m pretty sure the team that’s made two Super Bowls and another two conference championships in the last five seasons is well run, Lance trade be damned.
At this point, the attention-seeking is unbelievable, even for the biggest diva at the position that creates the biggest divas.
Antonio Brown is the only other WR in recent memory who has ever provided this much of a prolonged distraction of whining, bitching, and moaning.
This situation does not warrant a 6 month soap opera.
Who does Brandon Aiyuk thinks he is, Frankie Valli or some kind of big shot?
link to getyarn.io
As a huge Frankie Valli fan I can only respond by saying “Big Girls Don’t Cry”…but apparently WRs who think they are underpaid do.
Remember when people thought guys like Randy Moss and Ochocinco were headcases? Good Riddance to Aiyuk. This entitled clown actually thinks he’s going to pick what team he goes to? He’s the fourth option on a winning team. What a clown. The whole team sacrificed when Aiyuk came back from injury to “help him in his contract year”, deebo even turned into Aiyuks personal blocker for several weeks. Bye bye Brandon, we won’t miss you, and will be laughing as you languish your career on a bottom dweller team.
Bottom dwellers like the Patriots and Steelers?
The only two teams in the NFL with more Superbowl wins than the 49ers… lol.
I love these “pay the man!” clowns LOL keep this joker far away from my football team he’s not worth the draft capital, let alone the extension.
has any other position been paid more and produced less championships ? ? steelers next in line
All jokes aside, that’s an interesting point. On one hand, your first thought would be no, that wide receivers don’t move the needle as much as other positions. But it does sound, doesn’t it, when we say that quarterbacks definitely do, and it’s the wideouts that catch the passes. And, as a third element, we also definitely accept that certain wideouts make the quarterback more successful than others.
It’s an interesting prospect to consider-correlating wide receiver contract size with overall team success. Which positions have the most correlation with team success? You’d think next would be, what, tackle, edge rusher? It’d be interesting to see how the actual numbers stack up. It’d have to be reevaluated every season, to account for new contracts. You’ll also have a handful of players that are just special enough to add value regardless of position-your Watts, Kelces, Jeffersons, and so on. Rookie deals of course add a separate consideration to the entire affair, as well. It’d still be interesting to see more specific numerical analyses to consider for trend purposes, with the understanding that trends are more like guidelines than actual rules (if any of you so much as speaks the word parlays I’ll have your guts for garters!).
Him in SF with all those weapons is the best this guy will ever be. Anywhere else he goes he will most definitely decline statistically. He wants be a WR1 but he’s not, not unless it’s a really bad team. You wanna get paid like WR1? Then have fun playing for a crap team. He’s just flat out not as good as he thinks he is.
Aiyuk is not same tier as Jefferson or Hill.
That isn’t shade.
I was all interested earlier in the offseason. Lord knows Im concerned about the Bills WR room.
But Ive moved from interested to ambivalent to all the way out.
If Aiyuk isn’t happy with 28 million per year – its too much about the money. He is on a winning team. Great offense.
Im out. It just feels like too much drama. And that isn’t counting the trade compensation to get him back n the first place.
Im content to see how the Bills end up without a true number 1.
Btw – Im not entirely convinced that he is a 1.
A Steelers fan seconds this emotion.