49ers general manager John Lynch is hopeful that San Francisco will ink a long-term deal with their star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, but he admitted that it has been a frustrating process.
“I can tell you this: It’s been a long, arduous, hard process, our journey,” Lynch said in an interview with KNBR, via David Bonilla of 49erswebzone.com. “We started this early and, for whatever reason, haven’t been able to get it across the finish line. That’s been frustrating. But the communication, still, has been really good, both with Brandon and his agent, and we’re trying to figure out solutions.
“I’m always hopeful. I’m an optimistic person [in] nature, and so I’m always hopeful that we’ll get there and get there soon. I can tell you we feel the urgency to have him. The season’s approaching, and we have ample time.”
The 49ers have a history of going down to the wire in contract negotiations with players. All-Pro defensive end Nick Bosa signed a massive deal on Sept. 6 last year, while wide receiver Deebo Samuel signed in late July in 2022. Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt also signed his long-term deal on Sept. 9, 2021, so last-second deals are not all that uncommon in the NFL.
There’s been reports that Brandon Aiyuk and head coach Kyle Shanahan have a icy relationship, but Lynch said there there isn’t “bad blood” between the two sides.
“Negotiations can get heated. I think it’s his first time going through that. But no bad blood,” Lynch said. “People that are here see Brandon out here. There’s a lot of love and respect for the relationship we’ve had and continue to have, and hopefully, we’ll have into the future.”
Mike Garafalo of NFL Network reports that Aiyuk wants an adjustment of the final year of the 49ers new deal.
“The 49ers feel like they’ve already caved enough and caved more than they wanted to. They have come up significantly from their offer in the spring. My reporting is that they have pretty much agreed to over the first three years of the deal, which is usually the hard part. That’s the guarantee, the cash flow, the APY over the first couple of years. Aiyuk just wants an adjustment in the final year of the deal,” Garafolo said on Jason Puckett’s YouTube channel.
Lynch is confident that there will be a resolution soon.
“The good news is Brandon is a really, really hard worker,” Lynch said. “He’s taken great care of himself this offseason. He’s in fantastic shape. But there’s things you have to do on a football field, and getting yourself in there with our team. So we’re working hard, and hopefully, there’s a resolution soon.
“That’s all I can share with everyone. I understand the angst of everyone. I understand there’s been all kinds of stories and talk. That’s what people do these days, and we don’t like that part of it, but we love B.A. as a player.”
The Steelers have been linked to Aiyuk in a possible trade for months. The two sides are currently at a standstill, as neither Omar Khan or Lynch are budging. It appears that the 49ers are doing everything in their power to keep Aiyuk in the Bay Area, though.