There is one fundamental difference between the San Francisco 49ers’ front office and Brandon Aiyuk’s camp as the two sides begin negotiations for a new contract to maintain the great wide receiver in the long run: his value.
Brandon Aiyuk wants to get paid large cash.
Aiyuk announced this week that he intends to continue with the 49ers and sign a new contract. However, Aiyuk added that he believes he should be compensated fairly. Aiyuk made it obvious that he deserves a high salary because of the “value” he gives to the 49ers organization by doing things correctly in the locker room and on the field.
Aiyuk agreed that he should be paid more than $30 million annually. That compensation would place him among the highest-paid receivers, if not the highest—at least until Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase’s bills are paid.
The San Francisco 49ers want Aiyuk on a budget.
According to Mike Garofolo of the NFL Network, the 49ers have made a “run” at extending Aiyuk this summer. However, the 49ers and Aiyuk are “not close” to finalizing a deal. While Aiyuk and the 49ers want him to stay, the front office believes he is not worth the salary of a top wide receiver in the league.
“But [Aiyuk] does love the 49ers, from my understanding, and he knows this is a team that is taking care of their guys when it’s their turn, and there’s no reason he feels like he shouldn’t be next,” Garafolo told reporters.
“He believes he is one of the league’s finest wide receivers, and he expects to be compensated accordingly. And the 49ers are
Last season, Pro Football Focus ranked Aiyuk as the second-best wide receiver, trailing Tyreek Hill. Aiyuk had the seventh-most receiving yards in the 2023 season, with 1,342. He added seven receiving touchdowns. Aiyuk accumulated 1,015 yards in the 2022 season while playing with three different starting quarterbacks.
Aiyuk has demonstrated that he can be a reliable weapon for the Niners. The 2020 first-round pick has lived up to his draft expectations.
But is there a distinction between a top-tier No. 1 wide receiver and an elite wide receiver, such as Chase or Jefferson? The 49ers do not have the money for Arik Armstead, as proven by the deal they proposed. Will Aiyuk accept the former?
