Three Brandon Aiyuk scenarios where he stays on 49ers for 2024 season – NBC Sports Bay Area & California
The 49ers have tried to work out a multiyear contract extension with Brandon Aiyuk because the 2023 NFL season ended, however the sides have not been in a position to attain an settlement up to now.
Then, on Monday, a report surfaced that Aiyuk planned to visit the crew facility in Santa Clara for a gathering, which in and of itself is an uncommon occasion, as the complete crew and employees is on summer time break. It does point out, nonetheless, that the perimeters stay in communication, although the 2020 first-round draft choose’s future nonetheless may unfold in a number of alternative ways.
Whereas a commerce at all times is feasible, listed below are three ways in which Aiyuk can stay with the 49ers this season and doubtlessly past.
An settlement is reached
Traditionally, the 49ers want to maintain their gifted gamers within the constructing with high-dollar multiyear extensions. The proof is on the roster, with long-term deals signed by George Kittle, Trent Williams, Fred Warner, Deebo Samuel and Nick Bosa over the previous a number of years.
The 49ers little doubt have made Aiyuk cheap affords that mirror his efficiency over his four NFL seasons. If the perimeters are shut on a assured greenback quantity, they may have the ability to attain a compromise as a way to maintain everybody concerned completely happy.
The 49ers have already got restructured a number of gamers’ contracts as a way to manipulate the entire salaries paid out, and so they stay below the NFL wage cap. Additionally they have yet another season with just a little additional wiggle room since quarterback Brock Purdy is on the third and closing 12 months of his rookie contract, with a lucrative extension likely to come.
With some compromise on either side, a beneficial extension might be reached.
Aiyuk holds out, then stories for Week 1
Simply as Aiyuk refused to report for obligatory minicamp just a few weeks in the past, he may fail to point out up on the facility throughout coaching camp subsequent month. With Aiyuk nonetheless on his first NFL contract/fifth-year choice, the 49ers have the flexibility to waive fines levied on a participant who’s absent from camp, as they did with Bosa earlier than the 2023 season. Organizations cannot waive fines for absences throughout minicamp.
Like Bosa throughout his personal holdout, Aiyuk nonetheless is below contract, and will determine to skip coaching camp in its entirety and wait to report till simply forward of Week 1. But when the perimeters nonetheless cannot agree on a long-term extension by the point the 2024 NFL season begins, there isn’t any probability Aiyuk sits out. Reporting after the beginning of the season can be expensive, with Aiyuk’s wage leaping from simply over $2.3 million in 2023 to $14.1 million assured in 2024.
With out an extension in place, Aiyuk would have the 2024 season to point out the world his worth and set himself up for a mega contract previous to his sixth season.
The 49ers play exhausting ball
If contract talks stay in a stalemate, the 49ers may maintain their floor with Aiyuk. They nonetheless have Samuel below contract, and recently extended Jauan Jennings by means of the 2025 season. Common supervisor John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan additionally drafted a really gifted large receiver — Ricky Pearsall — within the first spherical this 12 months.
If the Aiyuk-49ers relationship turns into cantankerous, the crew may refuse to waive the fines accrued for his coaching camp absence, which might price him $40,000 for every day missed.
The 49ers additionally may use the franchise tag on Aiyuk after the 2024 season, conserving him with the crew by means of 2025. Whereas there’s a adverse connotation related to gamers being “tagged,” it isn’t essentially adverse financially, as a tagged participant receives the typical of the highest 5 salaries of their place group from the earlier 12 months.
In 2025, the franchise tag for a large receiver ought to be within the neighborhood of $31 million for one season. The disadvantage for Aiyuk can be a scarcity of stability for the longer term.
So, what’s an affordable Aiyuk wage?
When wanting on the many high-priced extensions signed by NFL large receivers because the 2023 season ended, it is comprehensible why Aiyuk wants to receive his due after 4 productive seasons. The place the second crew All-Professional falls within the order of salaries, nonetheless, is debatable.
Minnesota Vikings star Justin Jefferson acquired the best contract for a non-quarterback this offseason with a five-year, $140 million extension, with $110 million assured. Whereas Aiyuk is a considerable contributor to Shanahan’s offense, he doesn’t have comparable stats to Jefferson, a three-time Professional Bowl choice and 2022 All-Professional and NFL Offensive Participant of the 12 months.
Philadelphia Eagles wideout A.J. Brown acquired the second-highest extension this offseason at $96 million over three years, an annual common of $32 million, with $84 million assured. Detroit Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown will earn the third-highest average salary of $30 million, matching Miami Dolphins speedster Tyreek Hill with whole values of $120 million every for his or her extensions. Their absolutely assured cash differs barely, with St. Brown at $77 million and Hill at $72.2 million.
Hill’s Miami teammate, Jaylen Waddle, is likely to be the closest statistical comp to Aiyuk. Waddle, in three seasons with the Dolphins, has recorded three 1,000-yard seasons and scored 18 touchdowns, and he led the league with 18.1 yards per reception in 2022.
Aiyuk has recorded two 1,000-yard seasons in 4 years and scored 25 touchdowns, and he had his finest common yards per catch in 2023, with 17.9.
Waddle signed a three-year extension value $84.75 million this offseason, with a mean annual wage of $28.25 million and $76 million assured. The 49ers seemingly provided Aiyuk someplace within the neighborhood of Waddle’s common wage, understanding the necessity to match the place the receiver market stands, however what he is demanding might be a lot increased.
Aiyuk’s flooring might be the three-year, $70 million contract that Michael Pittman signed this offseason, with $46 million assured. Pittman, whom the Indianapolis Colts chosen 9 picks after Aiyuk within the 2020 draft, made 336 catches for 3,662 yards and 15 touchdowns in his 4 seasons (in comparison with Aiyuk’s 269-3,931-25 line) and, like his 49ers counterpart, has two 1,000-yard seasons. Pittman had a whopping 109 catches final season, and completed simply shy of the century mark in 2022, with 99 receptions.
The NFL large receiver market has been set, and the place Aiyuk ultimately will fall in it might be settled quickly.
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