The San Francisco 49ers have successfully resolved their contract dispute with star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, agreeing to a four-year, $120 million extension with $76 million guaranteed. This deal, which keeps Aiyuk with the team through the 2028 season, makes him the fifth-highest-paid receiver in the NFL with an average annual salary of $30 million.The agreement ends months of speculation and trade rumors surrounding Aiyuk, who had been holding out and reportedly requested a trade earlier in the offseason. Several teams, including the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, and New England Patriots, had expressed interest in acquiring the talented receiver. Interestingly, it has been reported that the 49ers attempted to trade for Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton before finalizing the deal with Aiyuk, offering a third-round pick which was declined by the Broncos.Aiyuk’s new contract comes on the heels of his breakout 2023 season, where he posted career-highs with 1,342 receiving yards and seven touchdowns on 75 receptions, earning Second-Team All-Pro honors. The 26-year-old receiver has been a key component of the 49ers’ offense, leading the team in receiving yards for the past two seasons.The 49ers’ decision to invest heavily in Aiyuk signals their commitment to maintaining a potent offense as they pursue another Super Bowl appearance. Head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch emphasized the importance of retaining Aiyuk for their championship aspirations. However, this substantial financial commitment may have implications for the team’s salary cap management and could affect their ability to retain other key players in the future.Notably, CBS Sports contributor and NFL cap expert Joel Corry has suggested that this deal might lead to the departure of another star player, Deebo Samuel, potentially as soon as 2025. The 49ers could save over $9 million in cap space by trading Samuel, which might become necessary with quarterback Brock Purdy’s upcoming extension on the horizon.With Aiyuk’s situation resolved, attention now turns to left tackle Trent Williams, who is also in the midst of a contract dispute with the team. The 49ers have 11 days before their season opener against the New York Jets to address Williams’ contract and other needs.
Key points
- Brandon Aiyuk signs a four-year, $120 million extension with the San Francisco 49ers, ending months of speculation.
- The 49ers attempted to trade for Courtland Sutton before finalizing Aiyuk’s deal, indicating their commitment to strengthening their receiving corps.
- Aiyuk’s contract may impact the 49ers’ ability to retain other key players, particularly Deebo Samuel, in the future.
- The team still needs to address left tackle Trent Williams’ contract situation before the season opener.
Contradictions👾There is a discrepancy regarding when the deal was initially offered.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported it was on the table since August 10, but Aiyuk’s agent, Ryan Williams, disputes this claim.
