Brandon Aiyuk Negotiations Expected to ‘Heat Up’ This Week with 49ers
It appears that a resolution to the never-ending Brandon Aiyuk saga could come to a close this week. Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the San Francisco 49ers and Aiyuk have reached a crucial point in negotiations.
“At some point, the 49ers need to get [to a] resolution. So I would expect this issue to heat up this week at some point in time,” Schefter said during ESPN‘s 27-Hour Fantasy Football Marathon on Monday. “It’s reached a critical juncture.”
49ers general manager John Lynch is hopeful that San Francisco will ink a long-term deal with 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.”
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.”
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.”
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported in his MMQB column on Monday that the Steelers’ contract offer to Aiyuk is less than $28 million per year, which is in the same ballpark as what San Fran is offering. The Steelers offer forced Aiyuk to go back to the table with the 49ers.
“The Brandon Aiyuk situation drags on, and I don’t have a whole lot to add on it,” Breer wrote. “The San Francisco 49ers’ star didn’t want to go to New England, which offered him more than $30 million per year in its proposals, or the Cleveland Browns. The Steelers’ price point was less than $28 million, which put Pittsburgh right in the neighborhood the Niners were inhabiting—with Mike Tomlin’s presence there the drawing card. That, in turn, pushed Aiyuk back to the table with the Niners.”
Aiyuk has been at 49ers practice in recent days, but hasn’t participated in any workouts. He is scheduled to make $14.1 million this season.
The Steelers have believed for some time — at least since Steelers Now reported on Aug. 7 — that the Steelers have the framework of a deal in place with San Francisco to land Brandon Aiyuk. It appears that offer isn’t lucrative enough for Aiyuk.
Aiyuk’s contract doesn’t have a no-trade clause, but he effectively holds veto power by refusing to sign a new contract with any team the 49ers might reach a deal with.
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