Brandon Aiyuk Meets with 49ers: ‘Taking Negotiations Personal’
Ryan Clark revealed on NFL Live Monday that San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has been taking negotiations “personal” and the offers so far have affected him.
Aiyuk told Clark that he wants to stay in San Francisco, but he is comfortable playing elsewhere if they are willing to trade him. Aiyuk is meeting with the 49ers on Monday, a meeting he requested.
Aiyuk is seeking a deal that matches or exceeds the $30 million per year that the Detroit Lions gave Amon-Ra St. Brown earlier this offseason, while the 49ers have reportedly offered a deal that is worth $26 million annually, according to Mike Silver, who covers the 49ers for Bally Sports.
Despite the sides only apparently being $4 million apart, Aiyuk took to social media to express his displeasure at the lack of movement last week, posting a video to TikTok where he told college teammate and Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels that the 49ers “don’t want me.”
Clark also said on NFL Live that Aiyuk walked into the room with Daniels to tell him that he’s meeting with the 49ers today.
Aiyuk is scheduled to play under the fifth-year option of his rookie contract in 2024, a fully guaranteed $14.1 million salary. Aiyuk showcased his displeasure with the team by skipping mandatory minicamp.
“The 49ers and Brandon Aiyuk have discussed a contract extension but they really haven’t made any progress,” ESPN’s Dan Graziano said on SportsCenter last week.
“If they can’t get something done with Brandon Aiyuk and he wants to make an issue of it, for example he already skipped mandatory minicamp, it is possible that either Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel ends up on the trade block, be it now, be it before the season starts, even if it goes toward the trade deadline in early November. So other teams are watching this situation closely. If the 49ers can’t get him signed, there’s still a possibility he ends up getting traded.”
Throughout the offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been linked as a possible trade partner for Aiyuk.
Aiyuk would significantly improve the Steelers’ wide receiver corps if a trade came to fruition, but it would come at a deep price. Aiyuk reportedly wants $30 million a year, and it would require a ton of draft capital to acquire him.
The 49ers and general manager John Lynch have been hell-bent on not trading their star wide receiver. But, if they don’t budge on Aiyuk’s demands, the two sides might have to part ways.
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