New England has been eyeing Aiyuk for quite some time, but the pursuit has been a slow burn from their end. Reports suggest that the Patriots were prepared to offer Aiyuk a deal that would have made him one of the top five highest-paid wide receivers in the NFL based on average annual salary. Yet, despite their interest and willingness to pay up, it appears that the wheels might have come off in their efforts to secure Aiyuk.
Meanwhile, the 49ers have given Aiyuk the green light to explore negotiations with other teams, but they've also left the door open for a possible agreement to keep him in San Francisco. Head coach Kyle Shanahan addressed the situation with reporters, noting that Aiyuk's "hold-in" – where the player is present at camp but not participating in drills – has been ongoing for a while. "It's been at this point for a little bit, so nothing really new to me," Shanahan said, reflecting a level of resignation about the ongoing contract negotiations.
So, what does this mean for Aiyuk’s future? At 26, he’s shown impressive performance on the field. Over the last two seasons, Aiyuk has amassed 153 receptions for 2,357 yards and 15 touchdowns. His stellar 2024 season earned him a spot as a second-team AP All-Pro after he caught 75 passes for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns. Despite this, he's set to make $14.124 million in 2024 – a figure that’s relatively low in a league where many top receivers command at least $20 million annually.
NBC Sports Bay Area's Matt Maiocco reported that the 49ers had an "framework" for a trade involving Aiyuk with both the Browns and Patriots. If the trade talks with the Patriots have fizzled, the Browns might be in a better position to land Aiyuk, assuming he doesn’t re-sign with the 49ers. The 49ers initially drafted Aiyuk with the 25th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. In the four seasons since, he has racked up 3,931 receiving yards over 62 games (60 starts), averaging 63.4 yards per game. Additionally, he’s made 24 receptions for 393 yards in nine postseason games with San Francisco.
Shanahan acknowledged the impact of potentially losing a player of Aiyuk’s caliber, saying, "Brandon's a great player so it's real hard to be better when you lose a great player." He added, "We've got to look into anything. We've got to understand the situation we're in, what that looks like and it does take time so hopefully it'll all work out the best for him and the best for us in the long run." This statement underscores the delicate balance the 49ers are trying to strike between securing their current roster and preparing for the future.
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