San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is officially holding out for a new contract, as the All-Pro did not report to the team’s first day of mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, according to a report by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Aiyuk is scheduled to play under the fifth-year option of his rookie contract in 2024, a fully guaranteed $14.1 million salary. But the star receiver has been looking for long-term security, has reportedly been seeking a contract greater than the four-year $120-million deal the Detroit Lions gave Amon-Ra St. Brown earlier this offseason.
It’s not clear what impact the monster extension the Minnesota Vikings doled out to Justin Jefferson earlier this week will have on those negotiations.
Aiyuk is subject to fines for missing minicamp, though it’s up to the team’s discretion as to whether they will enforce those fines.
The 49ers have recently signed both wide receiver Jauan Jennings and running back Christian McCaffrey to significant contract extensions. That, plus the team selecting Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, has led to speculation that the 49ers may not be able to keep Aiyuk.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been long-rumored as a trade destination if the 49ers want to move on from Aiyuk. The Steelers have been searching for a wide receiver to pair with George Pickens since trading Diontae Johnson earlier in the offseason.
The Steelers do have the salary cap space to facilitate the significant contract that Aiyuk is looking for, but San Francisco general manager John Lynch has been steadfast in saying that he does not want to trade the receiver.
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