Receiver Brandon Aiyuk did not show up for the San Francisco 49ers’ organized team activities (OTAs) last week, which was expected as the two sides are navigating a contract dispute.
Aiyuk and the 49ers are reportedly not close to reaching an agreement on a contract extension. according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. That has led to speculation that the fourth-year wideout will ask for a trade if he can’t get the deal he wants. Still, Aiyuk’s agent says the recipient didn’t ask out from San Francisco, despite unfollowing the team on social media.
However, another contract recently signed by a fellow NFL receiver might have produced the number Aiyuk and his representation want in a new deal. Just before the NFL Draft, Amon-Ra St. Brown signed a four-year, $120 million extension with the Detroit Lions that included $77 million in guaranteed money. That apparently set the bar Aiyuk wants to reach, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
“[Aiyuk] doesn’t have to be the highest paid in the league,” Fowler reported on “NFL Live,” “but he’s done and accomplished enough in that offense where he probably should be at that number or higher.”
While that gives us a number to work with, the disparity in statistics between Aiyuk and St. Brown will likely be a sticking point for the 49ers in negotiations.
Last season, St. Brown collected 119 receptions (on 164 targets) for 1,515 yards, 10 touchdowns and 75 first downs. Aiyuk caught 75 passes (on 105 targets) for 1,342 yards, seven scores and 61 first downs.
Still, Aiyuk can point to an offense that also includes George Kittle, Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffrey as a big reason he got 59 fewer targets. Despite not featuring like St. Brown, he still led the 49ers in catches and receiving yards.
According to Spotrac, Aiyuk will earn $14.1 million on his fifth-year option for the 2024-25 season. That’s less than the $30 million average annual salary St. Brown will get from his new deal. But St. Brown was also two years away from free agency and will make $4.9 million through 2024-25 on his original rookie contract.
AJ Brown will have the highest annual salary among receivers: $32 million, with the $96 million extension he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles. Behind him are St. Brown and the Miami Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill, according to Over the Cap.
Is that what Aiyuk wants to put his salary into? Do the 49ers feel he’s as valuable to their offense as the other three — especially with other top talent due with a projected $23.9 million over the cap in 2025?
These questions shape the negotiating limbo in which Aiyuk and the 49ers currently find themselves.
