Brandon Aiyuk

Steelers Re-Engage In Brandon Aiyuk Trade Talks; Patriots Out On 49ers WR

August 6th, 2024 at 9:18pm CST by Adam La Rose

9:18pm: The Patriots have removed themselves from the Aiyuk sweepstakes. According to Schefter, New England has “decided not to explore any further trade possibilities” with the 49ers. The reporter adds that the Patriots are “excited” about their young wideouts and want to “focus on them.” That grouping includes 2023 sixth-round picks DeMario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte, plus 2024 draft picks Ja’Lynn Polk (second round) and Javon Baker (fourth round).

While the Patriots may be touting their youth, it may not have been the team’s decision to pivot from an Aiyuk trade. According to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area, the Patriots had a deal in place with the 49ers but Aiyuk didn’t show interest in going to New England.

2:50pm: Tuesday has provided further developments on the Brandon Aiyuk front. The 49ers wideout continues his hold-in effort while multiple teams are engaged in trade negotiations.

It was learned last night that the framework of an agreement had been worked out between San Francisco and both Cleveland and New England. That has left the Browns and Patriots as teams to watch closely, but they are not the only ones still in the running. The Steelers re-engaged in talks earlier today, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

Pittsburgh has frequently been mentioned as a landing spot for Aiyuk this offseason. The 26-year-old named Pittsburgh (along with Washington) as a destination which interested him, although his public remarks at that time suggested he would remain in the Bay Area for 2024. Since then, extension talks with the 49ers have not progressed, fueling Aiyuk’s formal trade request and his subsequent hold-in efforts.

The Steelers traded Diontae Johnson to the Panthers this offseason, one in which veteran Allen Robinson was released. While the team did select Roman Wilson in the third round of the draft, adding an accomplished wideout has long been named as a remaining team priority. General manager Omar Khan recently said no moves on that front were imminent, but remaining in the hunt for Aiyuk means Pittsburgh could still manage to swing a deal.

As for the Steelers’ competition in the Aiyuk sweepstakes, the Patriots remain a contender as they have been for quite some time. New England was among the teams which discussed a receiver trade with San Francisco at the draft, although the subject at that time was Deebo Samuel. The 49ers’ other starting wideout has two years remaining on his contract, whereas Aiyuk is attached to the fifth-year option for the coming campaign. The Arizona State product is seeking a long-term deal at a price higher than what San Francisco is willing to authorize, and the latest wave of trade discussion has led to the expectation a trade will be more likely than a 49ers resolution.

Notably, veteran NFL insider Josina Anderson reports the Patriots have not upped their offer from where it has been “for a while.” The Browns’ ability to acquire Aiyuk would hinge on draft capital added to an offer including five-time Pro Bowler Amari Cooper. Cooper had his Cleveland accord enhanced recently, but he remains a pending free agent. Adding him to the mix would nevertheless represent a win-now move from the 49ers’ perspective, something which must be kept in mind given their Super Bowl window being open at the moment.

Echoing his reporting from Monday, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo states a trade remains a distinct possibility in this case relative to where things stood in previous days (video link). He notes the sense that a deal is getting “closer,” while adding no team can safely be considered out of the running altogether. How the Steelers, Patriots and Browns in particular proceed in the immediate future will thus remain worth watching closely.

Of course, at least two other teams are believed to be prepared to meet Aiyuk’s asking price, which will likely check in around $30MM per season as a result of the latest surge in the WR market. Aiyuk has a pecking order in terms of preferred landing spots, per Garafolo, although without a no-trade clause he does not have the power to veto a deal. Whether or not a final trade agreement will be struck remains a critical unanswered question as training camps roll on.

Brandon Aiyuk Trade Framework In Place With Browns, Patriots?

August 5th, 2024 at 9:45pm CST by Ben Levine

9:45pm: Following reports from earlier this evening that trade talks for Brandon Aiyuk were heating up, it sounds like the 49ers have found a pair of worthy offers. Per Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area, the 49ers have established “the framework” of an Aiyuk trade with both the Browns and Patriots. Maiocco also notes that the Commanders have removed themselves from the sweepstakes.

Now, the ball is in the player’s court to decide if he’ll accept the extension offers from either squad. We heard last month that the player’s agent was granted permission to sniff around on potential long-term deals.

While the Patriots would presumably look to entice the 49ers with draft compensation, the Browns are offering an immediate replacement for Aiyuk. Per May Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, the Browns would dangle Amari Cooper in a potential deal with San Francisco.

6:45pm: Nearly three weeks after Brandon Aiyuk requested a trade and nearly two weeks after the wideout started staging a hold-in, there’s been no progress in contract talks between the star receiver and the 49ers. While an extension seems to be the unlikeliest outcome in this saga, it sounds like the organization is making progress on potential trades.

According to Matt Barrows of The Athletic, “multiple teams” have contacted the 49ers about an Aiyuk trade. Barrows adds that talks “heated up again recently,” although no deal is imminent. Meanwhile, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero reported today that it’s more likely Aiyuk will be traded vs. signing a new contract with San Francisco.

We heard last month that at least five teams had shown a willingness to pay Aiyuk what he’s seeking, so it’s not a major development that these teams subsequently made a phone call to the 49ers. The organization hasn’t been willing to budge on their $26-$27MM-per-year price range, and Aiyuk has been tied to wanting a deal at or around $30MM and guarantees that come in around A.J. Brown‘s $84MM.

A third scenario will continue to remain in play: the two sides decide to play out the 2024 campaign before dealing with the franchise tag next offseason. This is probably the organization’s preferred route unless they’re able to acquire a useful player in their trade haul. On the flip side, we heard that Aiyuk is still pushing his “pay-me-or-trade-me” stance, so unless this ordeal ends in a trade, one of the two sides is going to have to blink.

Aiyuk attended training camp but has watched from the sideline for the past two weeks. Barrows notes that the player has attended meetings but hasn’t actually taken the field for any practices. In the meantime, it sounds like the two sides are struggling to bridge the gap, and if the 49ers are actively listening to offers for the wideout, it should only be a matter of time before a trade is completed.

49ers LT Trent Williams “Has Conviction” In Holdout; Latest On WR Brandon Aiyuk

August 4th, 2024 at 11:11am CST by Rory Parks

Two of the 49ers’ best offensive players, LT Trent Williams and WR Brandon Aiyuk, are seeking new and/or improved contracts, with Williams staging a holdout and Aiyuk engaging in a hold-in. Williams’ endeavor is a little more unusual, as he is 36 and under contract for three more seasons, while Aiyuk is 26 and is currently on the fifth-year option of his rookie deal.

That said, Williams continues to perform like the future Hall of Famer that he is, having earned First Team All-Pro honors in each of his first three years in San Francisco. His importance to the club’s offensive operation is unmistakable, and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler expects the Niners to address Williams’ deal in some way (subscription required).

When it comes to Williams’ contract, Fowler uses the term “rework” rather than “extend,” which our Sam Robinson suggested when Williams’ holdout was first reported and which makes sense in light of the blocker’s age and remaining club control. While there is no guaranteed money left on Williams’ deal, he is obviously in no danger of being released this season, so his $20.05MM base salary for the 2024 campaign is not in jeopardy.

However, his deal now slots in fifth among offensive tackles in terms of AAV, and regardless of the length of a contract when it is signed, an NFL club’s brass cannot be terribly surprised when a high-performing player seeks additional security after the guarantees on that contract run out. Per Fowler, Williams “has conviction” in his holdout, and as a player who has secured over $170MM in his playing career, he is not terribly concerned about the $50K in non-waivable fines that accrue with each day of camp that he misses.

While Williams and Aiyuk play different positions and are at very different stages of their careers, their contract situations do impact each other. As Fowler notes, Aiyuk is not budging from his “pay-me-or-trade-me” stance, and San Francisco is unwilling to authorize a contract at or near the top of a ballooning WR market that now has four players making at least $30MM per season. The ESPN scribe says negotiations between player and team have not progressed, and that trade offers may ultimately become too tempting for the Niners to pass up.

If San Francisco does move Aiyuk, giving Williams a raise would become much easier. One way or another, the team realizes it may need to undergo a “thoughtful reset” of its salary cap in the near future, meaning that it will need to part ways with a number of high-end players in order to remain competitive over the long haul. Of course, quarterback Brock Purdy will likely land a massive extension next season, adding another expensive contract to a roster that currently has seven players earning between $15MM-$34MM per year, with a few others just below that $15MM/year threshold.

49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk Begins Hold-In

July 24th, 2024 at 12:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

Brandon Aiyuk‘s 49ers impasse has veered closer to the arc Deebo Samuel‘s traversed two years ago. The younger San Francisco receiver standout has now requested a trade and begun a hold-in effort, mirroring where Samuel’s saga went in 2022.

The fifth-year wideout stood on the sideline and watched practice Wednesday, according to The Athletic’s Matt Barrows. John Lynch had said he expected everyone to practice, pointing to the Aiyuk matter taking this logical next step. Samuel held in for a few days two years ago but landed an extension. Aiyuk’s talks have continued to reveal a value gap, with his trade request emerging much later in the offseason compared to Samuel’s.

But the 49ers’ leading wide receiver from last season is at training camp, avoiding fines. Since the 2020 CBA made holdouts harder to stage, players have gotten around that language by showing up and not participating. The 49ers have now seen Samuel and Aiyuk hold in and Nick Bosa stage a true holdout, one that did not end until days before last season began.

Samuel signed his three-year, $71.55MM extension on July 31, 2022. Both he and D.K. Metcalf held in that year, with each seeing three-year deals to wrap those short periods. Aiyuk, 26, has been tied to wanting far more. The 49ers have identified a $26-$27MM-per-year price range, and Aiyuk has been tied to wanting a deal at or around $30MM and guarantees that come in around A.J. Brown‘s $84MM. Extension talks, which have produced more rumors compared to Samuel’s two years ago, have not progressed despite having begun months ago.

The 49ers having come to terms with Samuel and Bosa after stretches of non-participation in camp provides a roadmap to an Aiyuk resolution, and the 2023 team’s leading receiver being at camp does as well. The 49ers have repeatedly said Aiyuk, who is tied to a $14.12MM fifth-year option, is in their 2024 plans.

Aiyuk signing an extension would move Samuel to uncertain territory, with the prospect of the elder wideout — who is heading into his age-28 season — being moved to the trade block to accommodate an Aiyuk deal and a Brock Purdy extension in 2025 having been rumored at points this offseason. Ricky Pearsall, who briefly played with Aiyuk at Arizona State, appears in place as a long-term successor to either Aiyuk or Samuel.

Although the 49ers listened on Aiyuk and Samuel during the draft, they are attempting to run it back with the receiving duo they assembled four years ago. Aiyuk can use the prospect of a 2025 franchise tag against the 49ers, who are projected to be nearly $40MM over the 2025 salary ceiling. He has indicated an expectation of playing for the 49ers this season. It may be a bit before Aiyuk goes through drills and team work, and how this latest WR negotiation concludes will have long-term implications for the franchise.

Brandon Aiyuk Reports To 49ers’ Training Camp

July 23rd, 2024 at 9:59pm CST by Adam La Rose

Brandon Aiyuk has not landed the long-term deal he is seeking, nor has his recent trade request resulted in a change of scenery. The 49ers wideout will nevertheless be in attendance for the start of training camp.

Aiyuk reported to camp on Tuesday, as noted by Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. Many players seeking a new deal (or a trade) often remain absent as a means of exerting leverage and forcing a resolution. Instead, Aiyuk will be present for summer practices; it would come as no surprise, though, if he staged a hold-in by attending but not taking part in any on-field work.

Questions have been in place throughout the offseason regarding whether or not Aiyuk would remain in San Francisco for the 2024 season and beyond. The 26-year-old drew considerable interest at the draft, with at least five teams being prepared to meet his asking price on a long-term contract. No trade was worked out, and the 49ers are not interested in exploring a deal at this point in the offseason. A distinct lack of progress on the negotiating front led to this situation’s latest escalation.

Aiyuk – who on a number of occasions has voiced his displeasure over the absence of an extension via social media – requested a trade one week ago. A recent meeting with team officials did not produce traction toward an agreement, though as expected San Francisco still views him as a key part of the 2024 roster. General manager John Lynch confirmed (via Garafolo) the 49ers “fully intend” to keep the Arizona State product in the fold for at least the coming season.

The team is believed to be eyeing an agreement between $26 and $27MM per season, a figure which would move Aiyuk into the top 10 in receiver compensation. His asking price has shifted over the course of the offseason, however, one in which three wideouts (Justin Jefferson, A.J. Brown and Amon-Ra St. Brown) surpassed $30MM in annual compensation. The former first-rounder is currently slated to play out his $14.12MM fifth-year option in 2024.

San Francisco has a number of big-money offensive skill position contracts on the books already, and the team will have a Brock Purdy extension to attend to as early as next offseason. The 49ers added Ricky Pearsall in the first round of this year’s draft, but for now signs continue to point to Aiyuk (who could be franchise tagged in 2025) playing a fifth campaign in the Bay Area.

Patriots Inquire On Brandon Aiyuk; 49ers Eyeing $26-$27MM-Per-Year Deal

July 20th, 2024 at 8:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

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.

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.

At Least Five Teams Interested In 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk

July 19th, 2024 at 10:29pm CST by Ely Allen

The 49ers are starting to become notorious for having some of the stingiest purse strings in the NFL. The latest example sees the team go toe-to-toe with yet another star wide receiver in contract negotiations; this time, it’s Brandon Aiyuk. In an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show today, Mike Florio of NBC Sports revealed that at least five teams had shown a willingness to pay Aiyuk his asking price.

Florio’s tidbit is a little out of context for the current situation but is still relevant. According to Florio, during the draft, Aiyuk and his camp asked for permission to gauge interest in Aiyuk’s value around the league. His agent was given permission to see how much other teams would be willing to pay Aiyuk, and five teams were willing to meet his asking price at the time of $28MM per year.

Since then, new deals for receivers such as Jaylen Waddle, Amon-Ra St. Brown, A.J. Brown, and Justin Jefferson have vastly shifted the wide receiver-market. Aiyuk, who finished seventh in the league in receiving yards last year (1,342), may not have the stats to reach the payday of some of the players above him, but one must consider two other contributing factors.

First, after missing four games his rookie season (two with COVID-19), Aiyuk has only missed one game in the following three years. Second, Aiyuk is putting up the numbers he’s putting up without being the main focal point of the offense. Even throwing aside star players like running back Christian McCaffrey and tight end George Kittle, Aiyuk didn’t even get the most opportunities in the wide receivers room. While Aiyuk outpaced Deebo Samuel with 105 targets to Samuel’s 89, Samuel had 37 rushing attempts on top of that.

Aiyuk producing as much as he has in four years while being a third option of four star players should certainly have an impact on his asking price. Imagine the numbers Aiyuk would be able to put up had he the target share of a CeeDee Lamb or a Jefferson. Aiyuk’s contributions over his first four years could be considered comparable to those of Waddle, who recently received a three-year deal averaging $28.25MM a year with the Dolphins.

Now, having requested a trade, the 49ers face the consequences of allowing Aiyuk to theoretically test the market. Not only are there going to be teams willing to give Aiyuk the payday he deserves, but those teams are also going to be willing to give something up in order to obtain his rights in the first place, giving San Francisco little wiggle room to negotiate the price down.

Aiyuk’s situation is becoming a familiar one in San Francisco. Playing the compliant team player has gotten him nowhere in his contract negotiations. To move the needle, Aiyuk made the call to model his behavior after that of two 49ers who did receive paydays in recent years: Samuel and pass rusher Nick Bosa. Both players needed to get creative in negotiations, with Samuel requesting a trade and Bosa holding out at camp. As Florio so aptly worded it, “We’ve seen that you’ve got to be the squeaky wheel to get paid by the 49ers.”

Regardless, there is a market for Aiyuk in the NFL. The 49ers are not bidding against themselves, though their goal of $26MM-27MM suggests that they believe they’re negotiating in a vacuum. Just days ago, we saw the Patriots make inquiries into acquiring Aiyuk. The Commanders and Steelers were also considered contenders to land the wide receiver at some point. Aiyuk will get paid somewhere in the near future. The 49ers just have to decide if they want to open the pocketbook or let someone else pay Aiyuk.

49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk Requests Trade

July 16th, 2024 at 10:04pm CST by Adam La Rose

With talks between Brandon Aiyuk and the 49ers still failing to generate progress, a formal trade request has now emerged. The contract-year wideout is seeking a move to a new team, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

Aiyuk’s future has been one of the central storylines of the 2024 NFL offseason. The 26-year-old has long been seeking an extension at a price point San Francisco has not yet been willing to meet. Team and player recently met, and those in-person talks staved off a trade request for a brief time. The opposite is now true, however.

While the recent Aiyuk summit generated optimism, it was reported earlier this month that no tangible progress on the negotiation front had emerged. Indeed, Garafolo confirms the 49ers have not engaged in a fresh round of contract talks since May. Given today’s news, it is apparent Aiyuk has not shifted his stance with respect to his value on a long-term deal, something which has already been adjusted in the wake of other blockbuster receiver contracts.

Amon-Ra St. Brown (Lions), A.J. Brown (Eagles), and Justin Jefferson (Vikings) have each inked deals this offseason with an annual average value above $30MM. Aiyuk has been connected to an asking price matching the $88.7MM in full guarantees Jefferson secured on his historic extension. For now, the Arizona State product is due to collect $14.12MM in 2024 as he plays out his fifth-year option.

Aiyuk did not have a smooth acclimation period as he began his career under Kyle Shanahan, but he has emerged as one of the league’s top young receivers over the past two seasons. The former first-rounder has totaled 153 catches, 2,357 yards and 15 touchdowns during that span, helping the 49ers go on deep postseason runs each year since 2021. San Francisco already has fellow skill-position players Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle and Deebo Samuel on the books, though, and quarterback Brock Purdy will be eligible for a second contract next offseason.

Samuel (under contract through 2025) and Aiyuk were trade targets during the draft, but no deals were finalized. General manager John Lynch has remained steadfast that no consideration will be given to a trade in either case at this point, a stance which was logical in the absence of a formal request from Aiyuk. The latter has been outspoken on social media in recent weeks, and he named the Steelers and Commanders as hypothetical destinations if his 49ers tenure were to come to an end. ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirms a trade is still not on the table from San Francisco’s perspective.

Of course, Lynch is no stranger to dealing with situations such as this one. Samuel asked for a trade two years ago before ultimately agreeing to a multi-year San Francisco deal. Last offseason, Nick Bosa held out from training camp while attempting to exert leverage on a monster deal of his own. He ended up signing an eleventh-hour extension just before the start of the regular season, with the team agreeing to a record-breaking commitment on the defensive side of the ball.

Whether or not San Francisco is again willing to make a lucrative investment will be interesting to monitor over the coming days as it pertains to Aiyuk. Veterans report to the 49ers’ training camp in one week, and whether or not today’s move yields progress on the negotiating front will be a key storyline to follow.

Checking In On Unresolved WR Situations

July 4th, 2024 at 9:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

Wide receiver rumors continue to dominate the NFL’s post-minicamp quiet period. The shift atop the receiver market this offseason has complicated matters for other teams, while multiple clubs are also dealing with players attached to upper-middle-class accords.

With training camps less than a month away, here is a look at where the unresolved wideout situations stand:

Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers

This situation that has generated the most offseason rumors at the position; the 49ers-Aiyuk negotiations have dragged on for months. Progress has been scarce here, to the point Aiyuk requested a meeting to address his value and issues with the 49ers’ tactics during these talks. The Vikings’ Justin Jefferson extension has affected these conversations, with Aiyuk’s camp now seeking a full guarantee near the number ($88.7MM) the Minnesota superstar scored. AAV-wise, Aiyuk’s camp has been connected to pursuing a deal that matches or surpasses the $30.01MM number the Lions reached for Amon-Ra St. Brown. Aiyuk did not show for OTAs or minicamp.

Aiyuk, 26, is due a $14.12MM fifth-year option salary. His next step would be to hold out, risking $50K in per-day fines. The 49ers could waive them, as they did for Nick Bosa, since Aiyuk is on a rookie contract. That separates this situation from a few others here, and it is certainly possible the sides do not come together on a deal. Aiyuk not bringing down his guarantee request would run the risk of that happening.

While Aiyuk expects to be a 49er for a fifth season, the value gulf here — one partially created by the big-ticket deals other WRs have agreed to this offseason — threatens to prevent this situation from concluding smoothly like Deebo Samuel‘s did in 2022. The 49ers guaranteed Samuel $41MM at signing, illustrating how far the team and Aiyuk may be apart. Conversely, an agreement here — with the 49ers preparing for a Brock Purdy payday and having drafted Ricky Pearsall in Round 1 — would point to a 2025 Samuel trade. The 49ers discussed trades involving both their top wideouts, but John Lynch shut down those rumors post-draft.

Amari Cooper, Browns

The two-year Browns contributor joined Aiyuk in skipping minicamp, having seen his Cowboys-constructed contract fall in the pecking order (from second to 20th) due to the market booms of 2022 and 2024. Cooper signed a five-year deal, as the Cowboys prefer longer-term accords, in 2020 and missed out on cashing in as the market soared during the contract’s lifespan. Having played the lead role for a depleted Browns offense during an 11-6 2023 season, Cooper is aiming to score another payday ahead of his age-30 season.

Browns GM Andrew Berry identified Cooper as an extension candidate earlier this offseason, and Kevin Stefanski acknowledged talks have taken place. The Browns certainly had to assume they would be dealing with Cooper on the contract front once they gave trade pickup Jerry Jeudy a $41MM guarantee at signing (sixth among WRs). The ex-Bronco has yet to post a 1,000-yard season. Cooper has seven, though last season marked the older Alabama alum’s first 1,200-yard year.

With Deshaun Watson in Year 3 of a $230MM guaranteed extension, the Browns feature an unusual roster component. If Cooper were to hold out, the Browns would be unable to waive his $50K-per-day fines due to the 2015 first-rounder not being on a rookie contract.

As it stands, Cooper is tied to a $23.78MM cap number. Cleveland could reduce that with an extension, but Cooper’s age offers a slight complication. This does not appear an acrimonious dispute, and the sides are hoping for a pre-training camp resolution.

Tee Higgins, Bengals

This matter appears simpler, as Higgins has signed his $21.82MM franchise tender. Unlike Jessie Bates two years ago, Higgins is obligated to attend camp. The other eight players to receive a franchise or transition tag have signed extensions, each doing so several weeks ago. The Bengals have shown no indications they plan to extend their No. 2 wide receiver before the July 15 deadline, and while Higgins requested a trade, he has acknowledged he expects to remain in Cincinnati for the 2024 season. A trade could occur after the tag deadline, but the Bengals are highly unlikely — after resisting trade interest at the 2023 trade deadline — to move Higgins this year.

The Bengals and Higgins have discussed an extension for more than a year, and a modest offer — well south of $20MM per year — prompted the 6-foot-4 receiver to play out his fourth season. Gunning to dethrone the Chiefs and finish a mission they nearly accomplished in Super Bowl LVI, the Bengals tagged Higgins and are preparing to run back their standout receiver pair for a fourth year. If/once Higgins is tied to the tag this season, the sides cannot restart talks until January 2025. It is unclear if the Bengals would consider re-tagging Higgins next year, but the early word leans against this reality.

Joe Burrow‘s cap number spikes by $17MM between 2024 and 2025, moving past $46MM next year, and the Bengals have a receiver extension earmarked for Ja’Marr Chase. Though, Chase talks will be interesting after Jefferson’s guarantee figures surfaced.

Tyreek Hill, Dolphins

This is a rather unusual situation, but one that reminds of another Dolphins matter from recent years. Hill is tied to a four-year, $120MM extension; that deal runs through 2026. But the future Hall of Famer is already seeking a new contract. Teams rarely accommodate players with three years of team control remaining, due to the precedent it sets, but Hill has shown himself to be one of the top receivers of this era. He has delivered back-to-back first-team All-Pro offerings and has made a significant difference in Tua Tagovailoa‘s development. The Dolphins have not shut Hill down on this matter.

Hill, 30, is believed to have approached the Dolphins about an update before the St. Brown, Jefferson and A.J. Brown deals came to pass, but those contracts intensified the ninth-year veteran’s pursuit. Rather than a push for more guarantees on his current contract, Hill confirmed he is seeking a new deal. Teams are not big on giving back years to players, the Texans’ unusual move to lop three years off Stefon Diggs‘ contract notwithstanding, and agreeing on another extension — with customary guarantees — so soon would make for one of the more interesting decisions in this key chapter in WR history.

Dolphins GM Chris Grier has set a precedent on this front, giving in to Xavien Howard‘s demands for a new contract in 2022 despite being tied to a deal that covered three more seasons. The Dolphins have given Jaylen Waddle a big-ticket extension, one that is structured in a more player-friendly way than Hill’s backloaded $30MM-AAV pact. Signing deals that at the time broke the receiver AAV record, Hill and Davante Adams allowed their respective teams to insert phony final-year salaries — which almost definitely will not be paid out — to inflate the overall value.

No trade rumors have emerged here, as Hill wants to stay in Miami for his career’s remainder. Though, it will be interesting to see what comes out of these talks if the Dolphins decline Hill’s request this year. Hill is attached to a $31.23MM cap number.

CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys

The Vikings’ decision to authorize outlier guarantees for Jefferson probably affects the Cowboys most, as Lamb is also a 2020 first-round draftee who has shown himself to be one of the NFL’s best receivers. Lamb, 25, has been the centerpiece of the Cowboys’ passing attack since the team traded Amari Cooper — for salary purposes — in 2022. He is coming off a first-team All-Pro season — the first by a Dallas wideout since Dez Bryant in 2014 — and is tied to a $17.99MM fifth-year option figure. If Lamb does not land a new deal by training camp, he is prepared to follow Zack Martin‘s lead and hold out.

Dormant during the spring, Lamb extension talks are expected to pick up this summer. The Oklahoma alum’s interest in becoming the NFL’s highest-paid wideout veered toward shakier ground for the Cowboys following this offseason’s run of deals. The Cowboys not going through with a Lamb extension last year has certainly cost them, as Lamb’s camp has Jefferson’s guarantees to cite now. Dallas has not guaranteed a receiver more than $40MM at signing and typically holds the line on contracts spanning at least five years. Based on where the WR market has gone in terms of contract length, Lamb’s camp will likely make this a central issue in the sides’ negotiations.

Dallas not pushing this process past the goal line in 2023 has also created a situation in which Lamb and Dak Prescott are in contract years, a window that has opened just as Micah Parsons has become extension-eligible. The Cowboys are expected to first address their quarterback’s deal, which could be a tricky proposition due to Prescott’s tactics during his long-running extension talks earlier this decade, but a Lamb pact coming together by training camp is still in play. The Cowboys’ glut of extension candidates has created one of the more complicated contract situations in recent NFL history.

Courtland Sutton, Broncos

Checking in on a lower tier compared to the above-referenced receiver situations, Sutton continues to push for an update to his Denver deal. The Broncos have their top wide receiver attached to a four-year, $60MM extension that runs through 2025. Although just about every Broncos contract matter is overshadowed by the team’s Russell Wilson mistake, the team did well to lock down Sutton at what became a club-friendly rate during the 2021 season. After Sutton scored 10 touchdowns to help Wilson bounce back — to a degree, at least — in 2023, he has made an effort to secure better terms.

Sutton, 28, is believed to be angling for a raise from his $13MM 2024 base salary. The seventh-year target has been connected to seeking a bump to around $16MM. The Broncos did resolve a Chris Harris impasse by authorizing a raise, but the All-Decade CB was a better player who was in a contract year. Sutton reported to Denver’s minicamp but has not committed to showing up for training camp. Last month, the sides were at a stalemate. Tied to a $17.39MM cap number, Sutton would not be able to recoup any fines for a holdout due to being on a veteran contract.

Trade interest emerged during the draft, and the former second-round pick has regularly resided in departure rumors over the past two years. The Broncos cut the cord on fellow trade-rumor mainstay Jerry Jeudy, which stands to make Sutton more important as the team develops Bo Nix. Though, the Broncos have added a few wideouts on Sean Payton‘s watch. If younger players like Marvin Mims and fourth-round rookie Troy Franklin show promise, it is possible the Broncos revisit Sutton trade talks. Up until Week 1, only $2MM of Sutton’s base salary is guaranteed.

Meeting Does Not Bridge Value Gap Between 49ers, Brandon Aiyuk

July 3rd, 2024 at 11:28am CST by Sam Robinson

Justin Jefferson rumors circulated before his mammoth extension, and CeeDee Lamb has been tied to a holdout threat. But Brandon Aiyuk has been the offseason headline champion at his position, with his 49ers talks coming up frequently.

Aiyuk requested (and received) a meeting with 49ers brass. After the fifth-year wide receiver lobbed a comment indicating the 49ers do not want him back, the team — as has long been reported — confirmed during the summit it does indeed envision a future with Aiyuk. The two-time 1,000-yard pass catcher conceded, as Tee Higgins did weeks ago, he does not expect to be traded this year.

The recent Aiyuk-49ers meeting may end up catalyzing an extension, but it has not generated movement yet. The parties are not progressing on a deal in the wake of the summit, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo notes (h/t 49ersWebZone.com). This refrain continues, as a lack of development in these talks led to Aiyuk skipping OTAs and then incurring a $102K fine for not attending minicamp.

Aiyuk’s camp has referenced Amon-Ra St. Brown‘s $30.01MM-per-year deal as an AAV comp, and a guarantee figure that approaches Jefferson’s position-record-shattering $88.7MM number came up regarding locked-in compensation. Aiyuk has not shown himself to be in the Vikings superstar’s class, and St. Brown — albeit on more targets — has submitted better numbers. Aiyuk’s 3,931 career receiving yards rank 17th since 2020, further complicating extension talks for a player who resides on a team with an elite skill-position corps dependent on spreading targets around.

Considering no non-Vikings team has authorized a WR contract that includes more than $53MM fully guaranteed, it would be surprising if the 49ers caved to Aiyuk’s push at guarantees in Jefferson territory. AAV-wise, the team may be seeking something closer to where the Eagles went for DeVonta Smith ($25MM per year) than a deal that hits St. Brown’s $30MM-per-annum number.

No trade request has come, separating Aiyuk’s situation from Deebo Samuel‘s 2022 offseason. But a training camp holdout could be the next step, if the 2020 first-rounder is up to it. Aiyuk must be fined $50K per each training camp day missed, though the 49ers would have the option of waiving the fines — as they did for Nick Bosa — due to the standout receiver being on a rookie contract. Aiyuk, 26, is due a $14.12MM fifth-year option salary.

San Francisco’s leading receiver (by a wide margin) last season, Aiyuk can use the 49ers’ cap-space figure against them in his negotiations. Without any Aiyuk money or a Brock Purdy payment factoring into the equation, the 49ers are projected to be more than $38MM over the cap in 2025. A receiver franchise tag would cost more than $22MM next year. Unless the 49ers would be keen on letting Aiyuk simply walk in free agency if they are unable to extend him in 2024, they would need to clear enough space to apply the tag. That process, with Charvarius Ward also unsigned for 2025, would be tricky.

The 49ers still want Aiyuk around long term, to the point Samuel exit rumors have emerged after draft-weekend trade talks. This year, the reigning NFC champions are planning to keep their long-running WR duo intact, with first-rounder Ricky Pearsall in place as a developmental option for a future in which — in the most likely scenario — one of the starters departs in 2025.

Load More Posts