Brandon Aiyuk, the talented wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers, is discovering that the substantial, top-tier contract he desires might not be attainable. Despite his proven skills on the field, it seems that no team, aside from the New England Patriots, is willing to meet his financial expectations.
Reports suggest that the Patriots were ready to offer Aiyuk over $30 million per season. However, Aiyuk has shown little interest in heading to New England, leaving that potential deal on the table. Meanwhile, other teams, including the Pittsburgh Steelers, have also been in the mix, but their offers are not reaching the figures Aiyuk is seeking.
According to Albert Breer from Sports Illustrated, the Steelers’ offer to Aiyuk is close to what the 49ers are proposing. Breer mentioned in his MMQB column on Monday that this might be the reason Aiyuk and the 49ers have recently resumed contract negotiations.
“The Brandon Aiyuk situation drags on, and I don’t have a whole lot to add on it,” Breer wrote. “The San Francisco 49ers’ star didn’t want to go to New England, which offered him more than $30 million per year in its proposals, or the Cleveland Browns. The Steelers’ price point was less than $28 million, which put Pittsburgh right in the neighborhood the Niners were inhabiting—with Mike Tomlin’s presence there the drawing card. That, in turn, pushed Aiyuk back to the table with the Niners”, told Sporting News.
NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo also reported that Aiyuk and the 49ers had exchanged contract offers that were close in value, but a final hurdle remained before an agreement could be reached. By Friday, Garafolo updated the situation, indicating that the two sides had agreed on the details for the first three years of the proposed contract. However, Aiyuk is pushing for an adjustment on the non-guaranteed final year, which has delayed the finalization of the deal.
Aiyuk is currently under contract for 2024 at $14.1 million. While he has been present at 49ers practices in recent days, he has not participated in any workouts and has missed the team’s first two preseason games. It appears unlikely that he will play in the preseason finale, even if an agreement is reached this week.
If the Steelers or any other team do not offer significantly more than the 49ers, Aiyuk may find himself with no other option but to return to San Francisco under terms similar to those already on the table. The situation remains fluid, but Aiyuk’s hopes for a blockbuster contract may be diminishing as negotiations continue.