The San Francisco 49ers appear to be making headway in their efforts to secure a contract extension for wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, but a significant hurdle reportedly remains.
During an appearance on PuckSports, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo shared that Aiyuk and the 49ers have broadly agreed on the first three years of the extension. However, Aiyuk is pushing for a higher salary in the final non-guaranteed year of the contract, which has caused some friction.
“Aiyuk just wants an adjustment in the final year of the deal, which is not guaranteed,” Garafolo explained, according to Ali Thanawalla of NBC Sports Bay Area. “That year is never guaranteed, and we’ve seen a lot of wide receivers and agents insert big numbers in that last year to inflate the average per year. It doesn’t seem like Aiyuk is asking for that exactly—rather, he’s seeking a meaningful adjustment for that year, but still not guaranteed, something the 49ers could walk away from. That’s where the standoff is. I’ve described it as uncomfortable and contentious at times. I think it’s still that, but it’s really close to being done. That’s why the 49ers have said, ‘We’re not going to make a move and trade him away because we feel like we could still get this deal done.'”
There have been reports that the 49ers have a trade lined up with the Pittsburgh Steelers but haven’t executed it yet, seemingly because they believe they can still reach an agreement with Aiyuk. This latest report supports that notion.
Aiyuk’s insistence on adjusting the final non-guaranteed year suggests he is serious about maximizing the contract’s value, even if it only impacts the average annual salary. While this might seem like a minor issue, whether the deal gets done hinges on how firmly both sides stand their ground.
The 49ers have expressed a strong desire to finalize this deal, but they may need to concede a bit more to make it happen.
