The start of 49ers OTAs this week comes with big decisions and more dominoes to fall, with Brandon Aiyuk being the first to play his hand.
Reports emerged Tuesday morning that the San Francisco 49ers’ wide receiver will not be in attendance for Organized Team Activities beginning this week. Aiyuk and SF have been in contract negotiations for some time, with the player looking to secure a top-of-market extension near $30 million annually. Despite the holdout, Aiyuk’s team has not requested a trade at this time.
Brandon Aiyuk, 26, has been in a contract saga with the Red & Gold since the conclusion of the 2023 season. The Rocklin native posted career numbers last season, making his first All-Pro team. He also finished first in yards per catch (18.3) in the NFL.
Aiyuk has been mum regarding contract talks this offseason, only posting cryptic social media posts along the way. He did so Monday as well, going to his Instagram with the phrase “If I’m lying, I’m flying”. While that may seem not associated to his current situation, anything and everything can be considered during offseason contract talks.
Aas for where the 49ers and BA stand right now? Contract talks have not progressed positively, per reports.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Brandon Aiyuk is seeking a new contract. While the 49ers are open to negotiating a deal, discussions have not advanced significantly. It’s uncertain whether Aiyuk will attend their workouts at this point. The market has been established, with Amon-Ra St. Brown recently securing a deal worth around $28 million annually, which serves as a benchmark for Aiyuk and the 49ers. However, they haven’t reached an agreement yet.
The Brandon Aiyuk situation is the latest offseason drama for the 49ers, who have faced similar issues in previous years. In 2023, Nick Bosa held out until he secured a new deal just before Week 1 of the regular season. This year has been different, as Bosa reported to OTAs on Monday. It’s not surprising that Aiyuk didn’t attend this week’s workouts, but the real test will come with next month’s mandatory minicamp.
