NFL Rumors: Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers ‘Not Close’ to Contract Extension Amid Trade Buzz

Andrew PetersMarch 31, 2024

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Amid trade buzz surrounding San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, the two sides are not close on a contract extension, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

“We’re not close, and they have made a recent run at it from my understanding,” Garafolo said. “It’s not like they haven’t had any discussions. … Basically, it’s a little bit of a standoff right now.”

Garafolo noted that an option for the 49ers is to exercise the fifth-year option on Aiyuk’s contract, though a recent cryptic Instagram post from Aiyuk suggested he’d hold out if the two sides don’t agree on an extension.

Aiyuk, 26, had the best season of his career in 2023, notching 1,342 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, marking his second straight season with more than 1,000 receiving yards. He has been the team’s leading receiver over the past two seasons.

In a recent interview on the Nightcap podcast (h/t Yahoo Sports’ Ian Casselberry), Aiyuk expressed his interest in getting a contract extension that he feels is worthy of his play,

“I’m trying to get what I deserve,” Aiyuk said. “I feel like this season, this season playing football, I figured out who I was as a person and a player, what I bring to the table, what I bring to the locker room, what I bring to the organization. And just the value I hold when I walk in that building.”

Should the 49ers exercise Aiyuk’s fifth-year option, he would make $14.1 million in 2024 and be an unrestricted free agent in 2025. Per Spotrac, Aiyuk has a market value of $24 million per year, which would put him among the top-paid receivers in the league.