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San Francisco 49ers News & Rumors

Latest On Steelers, Brandon Aiyuk

August 7th, 2024 at 10:32pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Steelers remain a team to watch closely with respect to Brandon Aiyuk. The 49ers wideout has drawn considerable attention in recent days, but plenty is unresolved at this time.

Pittsburgh is one of a number of teams engaged in ongoing negotiations with San Francisco, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. The Steelers were not initially mentioned in Monday’s report regarding the framework being worked out on a trade. The Browns were named in that respect, along with the Patriots. New England is now believed to be out of the running, however.

The Patriots do not represent Aiyuk’s intended landing spot, something which may be the case for the Steelers. Pittsburgh has long been considered a contender to land the 26-year-old, and the team re-engaged in negotiations in the wake of Cleveland and New England making progress. While this situation remains fluid, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette confirms no agreement – formal or informal – is currently in place between the Steelers and 49ers.

Dulac adds that if a trade is to be worked out for Aiyuk, the Steelers will not include any players in the package coming back to San Francisco. Cleveland’s ability to acquire the Arizona State alum could require Amari Cooper heading the other way, but no comparable wideout exists for the Steelers. Pittsburgh already traded away Diontae Johnson earlier in the offseason.

That move (which was followed up by the release of Allen Robinson) has led to many naming the Steelers as a logical landing spot for a receiver. Aiyuk would certainly add considerable pedigree to a WR room led by George Pickens and third-round rookie Roman Wilson at the position as things stand. Pittsburgh is expected to rely on a run-heavy approach under new OC Arthur Smith in 2024, but Aiyuk has a pair of 1,000-yard campaigns to his name.

San Francisco entertained trade calls for both the former first-rounder and Deebo Samuel at the draft, though no deals were struck. The 49ers have several big-money commitments on offense already, and quarterback Brock Purdy will be eligible for an extension next offseason. Aiyuk is due $14.12MM in 2024 on the fifth-year option, but an extension will check in at a much higher rate.

The Patriots were reportedly willing to eclipse $28MM per season on a multi-year deal, and a New England agreement would have served the notable purpose (from San Francisco’s perspective) of sending him to an AFC team. Despite not having a no-trade clause, Aiyuk’s preference in this case appears to carry notable weight. Whether a potential desire to continue his career in Pittsburgh results in a trade will continue to be a top storyline for the Steelers and 49ers.

49ers To Sign S Tracy Walker

August 7th, 2024 at 10:04pm CST by Ely Allen

The 49ers’ depth at the safety position took a hit this offseason when veteran starter Tashaun Gipson departed in free agency. With a young, new up-and-comer in Ji’Ayir Brown and the veteran ballhawk reaching 34 years old, a return to San Francisco was unlikely. That has been capitalized by the likely addition of veteran safety Tracy Walker, reported late today by The Athletic’s Matt Barrows.

Barrows announces that San Francisco plans to add the former Lions defensive back tomorrow, when they will have to prepare an accompanying roster move to make room for Walker. The team did its homework on veteran safeties earlier in the offseason, hosting Rayshawn Jenkins and Julian Blackmon, but they ended up signing with the Seahawks and Colts, respectively.

Walker was a third-round pick for the Lions back in 2018 after an impressive four-year stretch for the Ragin’ Cajuns in Louisiana. After Walker came off the bench in his rookie season behind Glover Quin and Quandre Diggs, the offseason release of Quin allowed Walker to step up as a full-time starter in his sophomore campaign. He struggled to hold down the starting job in 2020, splitting time with Jayron Kearse in the role, but returned to start 15 games in 2021. A torn Achilles tendon cost Walker most of his 2022 season.

Last year, Walker seemingly lost his starting job on the Lions defense. Coming back from the Achilles injury, Walker started five of Detroit’s first seven games. Young safeties Kerby Joseph and Ifeatu Melifonwu ended up taking over as the starters as the season went on. Walker was released by Detroit as a result, freeing up a good amount of cap space for the Lions.

Luckily, San Francisco doesn’t need Walker to come in as a starter. The 49ers are looking forward to the eventual return of former All-Pro Talanoa Hufanga, who missed the final seven games of 2023 with a torn ACL. Hufanga aims to return in time for the team’s season-opener, but in case there are any speed bumps along the road back to the field, Walker provides the 49ers with some starting experience next to Brown.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/7/24

August 7th, 2024 at 7:38pm CST by Ely Allen

Wednesday’s minor moves:

Cincinnati Bengals

Green Bay Packers

Indianapolis Colts

Miami Dolphins

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

  • Claimed off waivers (from Commanders): TE Armani Rogers
  • Waived: WR Shaq Davis

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Washington Commanders

The Packers apparently felt it necessary to add another competitor to their position battle at kicker today, signing Hale out of Oklahoma State. The former walk-on from Australia hit on 43 of his 54 field goal attempts as a Cowboy in Stillwater.

Following the retirement of Tarik Cohen, the Jets opted to sign Jackson. The former Colts rusher had some big moments in 2022 while filling in for an injured Jonathan Taylor. He and Vaughn were both participants in a recent workout with the Texans, but Cam Akers walked away from that day with the job.

Lastly, Owens’, son of NFL legend Terrell Owens, time with one of his father’s former teams has come to an end. His pedigree may have assisted in landing an opportunity as an undrafted free agent in San Francisco, but he was unable to stay rostered throughout camp.

Patriots’ Brandon Aiyuk Offer Eclipsed $28MM Per Year; WR Wants To Land With Steelers?

August 7th, 2024 at 12:23pm CST by Sam Robinson

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.

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.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/6/24

August 6th, 2024 at 9:04pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

  • Signed: DE Zach Morton

Las Vegas Raiders

  • Signed: WR Dax Milne
  • Waived/injured: DT Tomari Fox

Los Angeles Chargers

  • Signed: QB Luis Perez
  • Waived: LB Savion Jackson

Los Angeles Rams

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Washington Commanders

CeeDee Lamb isn’t usually mentioned in this type of post, but the transaction involving the wideout was simply procedural. As ESPN’s Todd Archer notes, placing Lamb on the reserve/did not report list opens up a roster spot for the Cowboys, something that was necessary after the team signed three players today. This move doesn’t impact negotiations, and Lamb can be activated once he returns to practice. Lamb continues to holdout while he waits for a new deal, but the front office is working hard to get him back in the building.

Justin Herbert‘s recent foot injury necessitated some extra depth at the position. The team ended up opting for Luis Perez, who led the UFL last season in completions (225), passing yards (2,309), and touchdowns (18). Perez will soak up some temporary snaps alongside Easton Stick, Max Duggan, and UDFA Casey Bauman.

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 Sign RB Matt Breida

August 5th, 2024 at 8:29pm CST by Ben Levine

Matt Breida is returning to his first NFL squad. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the 49ers are signing the veteran running back. Per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, Breida was among a long list of players who auditioned for the 49ers today, a grouping that also included fellow running backs Anthony McFarland Jr. and Ke’Shawn Vaughn.

The UDFA out of Georgia Southern got his first NFL contract from the 49ers and proceeded to spend three seasons in San Francisco. Breida got into 43 games (18 starts) with the organization between 2017 and 2019, compiling 2,463 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns. His best season came in 2018, when he topped 1,000 offensive yards.

He was dealt to the Dolphins ahead of the 2020 campaign, but he finished his lone season in Miami with a career-low 68 touches. That number fell to 33 touches during his stint with the Bills in 2021, but he found a home with the Giants over the past two years. Serving as Saquon Barkley‘s primary backup, Breida collected 577 yards from scrimmage between 2022 and 2023.

Now, he’ll be joining a 49ers depth chart that’s in need of some depth. As Matt Barrows of The Athletic notes, fourth-round rookie Isaac Guerendo recently went down with a hamstring injury, and the team was already expected to limit Christian McCaffrey‘s snaps during the preseason. That means Breida will now be competing for preseason reps with familiar faces like Elijah Mitchell and Jordan Mason, newcomer Patrick Taylor Jr., and UDFA Cody Schrader.

The 49ers made a couple of other transactions today. According to Barrows, the team signed offensive lineman Lewis Kidd and placed OL Pat Elflein on IR. Elflein only joined the team the other day, and Barrows notes that the lineman injured his calf only a few plays into his first practice with the team.

This is the second-straight year that Elflein has landed on injured reserve before the season even begins. Last year, it came with the Cardinals, as the lineman was placed on IR with an undisclosed injury right before the season started. The former Vikings starter spent the 2021 and 2022 campaigns in Carolina, where he started all 15 of his appearances.

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.

NFL Injury Updates: Rams OL, Wingard, Jackson, Oweh

August 3rd, 2024 at 5:59pm CST by Ely Allen

Earlier this week, the Rams received unfortunate news that presumed starting left guard Jonah Jackson would miss the entire preseason with a shoulder injury. The hits keep coming as we learn that two other Rams’ starting lineman are dealing with injuries this preseason, according to Rams senior staff writer Stu Jackson.

Head coach Sean McVay listed left tackle Alaric Jackson and right tackle Rob Havenstein as “week-to-week” in a recent update. Normally, a week-to-week status wouldn’t pique much interest, but with Jonah already out, the Rams will be without three starting linemen in the coming weeks.

With the Jackson’s and Havenstein all out, Los Angeles will be fielding a “Rolodex of guys” in the meantime. While McVay claims that he isn’t too concerned about the injuries, the starters’ absences in the coming weeks will take away from the potential chemistry of the group as a whole. When incorporating a new starter in Jonah Jackson and moving last year’s left guard Steve Avila to center, that lost time could prove harmful to the group’s effectiveness early in the season.

Here are a few other injury updates from around the NFL:

  • The Jaguars lost some depth in their secondary recently, per Josh Alper of NBC Sports. Head coach Doug Pederson gave an update recently informing the media that veteran safety Andrew Wingard had suffered a knee injury. While the extent of the injury is as of yet unknown, Pederson predicted that Wingard could miss “significant time” with potential to even miss regular season games. Currently second-year safety Antonio Johnson and former Steelers safety Terrell Edmunds are competing for the starting job. Wingard’s presence provides additional starting experience that Jacksonville will go without until he can return.
  • 49ers pass rusher Drake Jackson missed the second half of last season with a knee injury and is reportedly still making his way back from the issue. After the losses of Chase Young, Clelin Ferrell, and Randy Gregory in free agency, San Francisco is likely hoping to see Jackson step into a bigger role this year. That will need to wait, though, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Jackson will miss the remainder of training camp, “at a minimum,” as he continues to work his way back from injury. Free agent signing Leonard Floyd will have to hold down the spot across from Nick Bosa, in the meantime.
  • Ravens pass rusher Odafe Oweh is having an outstanding camp out in Baltimore, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, despite the fourth-year defender reportedly having undergone a minor surgery in the offseason. Oweh didn’t specify what the procedure was or what he got repaired, but it doesn’t seem to have hindered him at all. The Ravens are desperately hoping to see his impressive ability to pressure the passer turn into sacks this year after watching Jadeveon Clowney walk in free agency.
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