Right now, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk continues to be embroiled in a standoff with his team. Since the start of the offseason, he has been looking for a lucrative contract extension, and after talks during the offseason went nowhere, he asked to be traded just weeks ago.
He has been staging a “hold-in” during training camp where he’s been present but not on the field for practices. The 49ers reached the framework of trade agreements with three teams, but Aiyuk nixed a trade to two of them — the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots. The third team — the Pittsburgh Steelers — is still a potential destination, but the Niners have been looking to reach an extension agreement with him first.
Since Aiyuk reportedly wants a deal in the neighborhood of $30 million a year, some, including Niners fans, have called him a diva and said the team should simply trade him. But Ross Tucker presented an argument on his podcast that Aiyuk is actually underrated.
His argument is that Aiyuk is simply an outstanding classic X wide receiver who stretches the field and adds yards after the catch instead of someone who tries in vain to redefine his position.
The 49ers need to keep Brandon Aiyuk
Aiyuk has gradually improved ever since entering the NFL as a first-round draft pick in 2020. In 2023, he led San Francisco with 75 catches and 1,342 receiving yards while scoring seven touchdowns, and he has evolved into quarterback Brock Purdy’s No. 1 target in the passing game. Yet he was arguably snubbed by being let off the NFC’s Pro Bowl roster.
As Tucker pointed out, if he doesn’t stick around in the Bay, the team will be taken down a notch and possibly more than that. It’s certainly possible a rookie such as Ricky Pearsall or Jacob Cowing, or even fellow wideout Deebo Samuel, will step up and pick up the slack in time. But one cannot necessarily expect that, especially after just two preseason games.
According to multiple reports, Aiyuk and the 49ers could be closing in on an agreement on an extension and there could only be some minor details to iron out. However, sometimes those minor details can be the things both sides haggle over the most.
Contract holdouts or, in Aiyuk’s case, “hold-ins” have become prevalent across the NFL. Niners Faithful is hoping this one will have a very happy resolution within the next couple of weeks for San Francisco’s beloved men in red and gold.
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