Brandon Aiyuk opted against one form of ratcheting up his contractual standoff with the San Francisco 49ers.
The wide receiver reported to training camp Tuesday despite the impasse with the organization on talks for an extension.
Aiyuk, 36, is set to earn $14.1 million on the last year of his deal – the fifth-year option of his rookie contract. But after a breakout season in which he led the 49ers in receiving yards (1,342) for the second consecutive year, the 2020 first-round pick is seeking an extension that would afford him a significant pay bump as well as more long-term security. He did not attend the team’s mandatory minicamp amid the impasse.
Each training camp practice missed could result in up to $50,000 in fines, though the team can forgive any financial penalties stemming from this stretch since Aiyuk is still on his rookie contract.
With the 49ers yet to budge on a deal, Aiyuk last week requested a trade, according to multiple reports. General manager John Lynch has repeatedly dismissed any speculation of a potential move, saying since April’s draft that the team has no intention of moving one of its most important offensive pieces.
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‘We fully intend on Brandon being a Niner moving forward,’ Lynch said on Tuesday. ‘We’re always open to listen to things, but like I said, we expect Brandon to be an integral part of our team like he has been, and (we’re) excited about that.’
Aiyuk’s standoff with the 49ers comes amid an explosion in the market for top receivers. Minnesota Vikings All-Pro Justin Jefferson set the bar at the position in June with a four-year, $140 million deal, while the Philadelphia Eagles’ A.J. Brown (three years, $96 million) and DeVonta Smith (three years, $75 million), Detroit Lions’ Amon-Ra St. Brown (four years, $120.01 million), Miami Dolphins’ Jaylen Waddle (three years, $84.75 million) and Houston Texans’ Nico Collins (three years, $72.75 million) have all signed big-money pacts this offseason.
The 49ers, however, have had to navigate their spending while planning for a potential extension for quarterback Brock Purdy next offseason. The 2022 ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ is set to make just $985,000 in base salary for the upcoming season, after which he will be eligible for a new deal. 49ers CEO Jed York said in March he expects Purdy ‘to going to ask for something that no one has ever asked for before.’
Aiyuk is far from the first 49ers star to be left waiting for a pay bump.
After Nick Bosa earned Defensive Player of the Year in 2022, the defensive end waged a holdout that lasted until just days before last season began. He eventually agreed to a five-year, $170 million contract that made him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history. The team also waived all of the fines Bosa incurred during the holdout.
Wide receiver Deebo Samuel also requested a trade in the 2022 offseason before reaching a three-year, $71.55 million extension months later. In 2020, tight end George Kittle’s five-year, $75 million did not materialize until mid-August.
