Brandon Aiyuk, WR is looking for trades What are 49ers options?

Are the 49ers consider trading Aiyuk What do the implications be for this deal? Deebo Samuel, and Brock Purdy.

By Nick Wagoner

Jul 16, 2024 07:50 PM

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -In the midst of his long-awaited pay day, San Francisco 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk has tried a variety of strategies to convince the team of making a deal in the offseason. Through the entire time Aiyuk has not asked to trade. Until Tuesday.

The Niners start to get ready for practice next week, Aiyuk has asked to trading as per sources that spoke to ESPN. The teams have discussed the details of a big-money extension beginning in March, but aren’t able to come to an agreement, as previous wideouts in the league have earned an income and have pushed up the value of Aiyuk’s shares.

Aiyuk 26, Aiyuk only has one-year left on Aiyuk’s rookie agreement. The fifth year option will be paid $14.124 million in the coming season. Aiyuk is seeking an extension that could roughly twice that amount in terms of a typical annual pay.

The Niners have, however, always looking to renew their agreement together with Aiyuk with the intention to keep Aiyuk as the key player in the league.

If Aiyuk remains this season Niners will be returning all 11 offensive players from a team that was first in offensive scoring per game (28.4) and efficiency of the offensive (76.02) and expected offensive points (148.06) and second in yards per game (398.4) in 2023.

Aiyuk was certainly an integral part of the team’s success. He was leading San Francisco in receiving for the second time in succession with a record-setting number of yards he was able to receive (1,342) and also the leading yards per catch (12.9) and being 2nd in yards per goal (17.9 ).

There’s no deadline which is set for Niners as as Aiyuk to reach an agreement on the terms of a contract at this time however, with the training camps in full swing and the beginning of regular seasons approaching at a minimum there are some non-official standards to negotiate.

Let’s look at what it’s about.

What’s the reason why Aiyuk is requesting the 49ers to trade him? And will the 49ers be willing to consider it?

The way to phrase it simply is: Aiyuk wants to get the money he deserves to honor his position among the top wide receivers in the NFL. The offseason has seen some the best wide receivers in league, including Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson, Philadelphia’s DeVonta Smith, A.J. Brown and Miami’s Jaylen Waddle, and Detroit’s Amon-Ra St. Brown sign lucrative extension of their contracts. St. Brown, Brown and Jefferson have all signed contracts with a value of approximately $30 million per season.

While these agreements are currently being completed, Aiyuk has been impatiently waiting for a decision that is his own. That’s why Aiyuk has made use of social media platforms to express his displeasure at the team, whether it’s by emojis, or on Instagram and TikTok video of him and Washington Commandos quarterback Jayden Daniels where he says the Niners have informed him that they weren’t required to take him on as a player of their.

Aiyuk also has admitted that he employed these tactics to press the Niners to see the deal done sooner rather then in the future. Aiyuk has stated publicly that he would like to become a Niner in 2024 and even reached out to head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch on draft night to applaud the selection of First-round catcher Ricky Pearsall.

All through the years, it’s been claimed by the Niners have declared that they aren’t looking to trade Aiyuk. Tuesday’s trade proposal was not enough to alter their position regarding this issue as well. The Niners believe that Aiyuk is an essential player, but they’re focusing on trying to rise to the top of the pack and be successful during this year’s Super Bowl this year.

The concept to trade Aiyuk in July draft picks for 2025, which won’t help in the goal will just be unproductive. That’s the reason why the Niners aren’t open to negotiations to trade with teams who are interested in Aiyuk. Maybe teams that offer an outstanding player in exchange in exchange for Aiyuk could alter the Niners position, however, these kinds of deals aren’t typical in the NFL and are highly unlikely during this season.

Can the Niners sign Aiyuk?

Absolutly. As odd as it might sound considering the request for trade, it’s the most likely outcome. Over the last five years, the Niners have seen two players who asked for trades only to join the team soon after.

Wideout Deebo Samuel Sr. Wideout Deebo Samuel. He pleaded for an exchange in during the spring of 2022, but later agreed to an extension of three years, totalling to $73.5 million during the last day of the month. The player Robbie Gould asked to be released in April of 2019, and was then signed again in July.

In addition it is the 49ers are more experienced when it comes to signing contracts with their best players in the coming season. While in the case of this, waiting may have increased the cost of keeping Aiyuk on the rise, that’s the way they prefer to manage business.

Below are some dates on which other top players reached the terms of their extension the past:

Bosa’s deal wasn’t signed until close to the start of regular season games. If Aiyuk isn’t signed by then, maybe the conversation could shift.

What’s the next step for Aiyuk?

The Niners begin their Training camp next Tuesday, with the first field workout scheduled for the following morning. Aiyuk may be able to stay in the game, just like he did at the minicamp that the team had to attend during the month of June. If he opts for this option, he’ll be penalized up to $50,000 per missed practice at the camp. But, contrary to the fines of $111,000 which he was able get due to not attending minicamps Aiyuk might be able to have fines he has incurred during training camps disregarded since Aiyuk is on agreement. The Niners also did this for Bosa when he quit in September.

Aiyuk may follow in the footsteps of Samuel by agreeing to “hold in” while his representatives attempt to reach an arrangement. It would result in Aiyuk will be able to attend the camp and participate in meetings, but will not participate in actual training. Samuel was mostly engaged in exercises on a side field, until the deal was finalized.

If Aiyuk is unable to take a deal, or is traded in the near future, he’ll continue to play in the NBA, possibly becoming a free agent after 2025. However, the Niners can influence the outcome because Aiyuk may be a perfect candidate for a franchise tag, something which both teams would prefer not to do.

Does this affect the future of Samuel in the 49ers?

The signs are all in favor of Samuel playing in this season’s league on his present contract before leaving the Niners to decide about his future during his offseason. This could alter if San Francisco struggles in the start of the season and receives favorable trade offers just before this deadline. In the absence of offers for trades, however the Niners acknowledge that they will be the most successful team in 2024 if Samuel and Aiyuk are in the team.

Samuel isn’t guaranteed a salary in his contract following this season. But there’s bound at least $15.1 million in dead money if it happens that the Niners have to trade or eliminate Samuel prior to June 1st, 2025. This move could also allow for the saving of $9.1 million from the cap of 2025.

In the same way as Aiyuk, Samuel heard plenty of reports about trades that could involve him in the draft coming up, but he did not seem to be concerned about the speculation over his position after his season.

“At the end of the day, the contract was signed,” Samuel declared in June. “I am aware of what I committed to and we’ve been focusing on the year ahead. “

The Niners aren’t able to negotiate a new deal to Aiyuk then the chances of Samuel staying would increase but he’d still be qualified for an extension in the offseason which would reduce the cap for 2025, which amounts to $24.2 millions.

Is there an option in the event that each of Samuel and Aiyuk stay as part of the Niners in 2025? It’s not feasible, however it might require an extension for Samuel which could be difficult to achieve because the Niners have several other players who are waiting for new contracts including one that could drastically alter their salary cap in the next few years.

A possible contract negotiation isn’t more expensive than what is likely to be during the offseason of next year for Brock Purdy. The quarterback has just finished his 2023 season where he set the record for the team in passing attempts that he performed (4,280) in addition to being the first Niners quarterback this ever since Jeff Garcia in 2001 to throw more than 30 touchdowns and also he earned his debut Pro Bowl nod.

If Purdy is able to put together a season that’s similar to the previous year or even better, he’s likely to sign a contract which could pay him upwards of $45 million per period. It will be one of the biggest increments ever recorded in NFL history, since Purdy will be paid an initial salary of $985,000 in 2024. The 49ers are already preparing for a pay day with Purdy that will likely to be more significant that any other non-offseason venture in 2025.