For months, General Manager John Lynch and the 49ers stood tough when it came to the topic of Bradon Aiyuk. Earlier on Monday night, 49ers’ insider and NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco reported that the 49ers had negotiated a framework of a deal centered around Aiyuk with both the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots. When Night 1 of the NFL Draft passed by without a deal, most people thought the prospect of Brandon Aiyuk leaving the Bay Area was low because of the 49ers’ inability to instantly replace his production. However, the selection of Ricky Pearsall by San Francisco did turn some heads, prompting questions about a potential deal for Aiyuk or fellow receiver Deebo Samuel.
49ers fans and most NFL insiders were accustomed to the long and drawn-out style of negotiations Lynch seemed to prefer with his star players. Pass-rusher Nick Bosa only inked his extension days before the team’s Week 1 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers the season before. A year prior to that, receiver Deebo Samuel, in a similar contract stand-off with the team, signed his extension 2 weeks into the team’s training camp after a trade demand. Even linebacker Fred Warner was given his extension only after training camp had begun in 2021. For 3 straight years, the 49ers insisted on drawing out extension talks with stars until the last, last second.
What Next?
Personally, I assumed that the Aiyuk situation would be the latest in a long line of 49ers stars to face similar negotiation tactics. So I ignored the whole media frenzy around Aiyuk and thought that the 49ers would eventually find a deal with the disgruntled star. I also thought this because Aiyuk is so exceedingly important to the continued development of the man the team hopes is their franchise quarterback, Brock Purdy.
Purdy relies on Aiyuk in a different way than Deebo Samuel or George Kittle. Aiyuk is a route-running extraordinaire, especially in the intermediate to deep areas of the field which the 49ers’ offense only started to explore after Purdy took over starting quarterback duties. Without Aiyuk, it’s unclear how Purdy will be able to continue developing into the superstar quarterback that he can become.
I don’t think Brandon Aiyuk is going to get traded. He will be a San Francisco 49er for the upcoming season. There. I said it. I haven’t gotten any sources, so this isn’t some kind of a source-based prediction. This also isn’t attacking Matty Maiocco or his intel because he is a very credible insider. But I just have a hard time believing Head Coach Kyle Shanahan will just consent to trade Aiyuk for some picks in the 2025 NFL Draft and call it a day. Aiyuk is REALLY important to this new-look 49er offense with Purdy that we started seeing last season and there is nobody on this roster, including rookie Ricky Pearsall, who can replicate his skill set.
Will Aiyuk sign an extension? I don’t know about that. Will Aiyuk sit out the year? I don’t think he’d be willing to do such a thing, because that will only end in his value depreciating. Will Aiyuk play the year out on his 5th year option? I think this is the likely outcome, truth be told. Is it the preferred outcome of either party? Not necessarily. However, this whole Brandon Aiyuk saga is foreboding what will come after Purdy is awarded his well-deserved contract extension this season. The 49ers will have to make tough decisions all over their very expensive roster. The question for me is Brandon Aiyuk the first of the many tough decisions Lynch, Shanahan, and the whole 49ers brass will have to make?
