Despite rumors the San Francisco 49ers might trade wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk if they cannot agree to an extension, the Niners still “firmly believe he is in their plans,” according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
“I would expect them to get to work on a new deal for him, probably after free agency,” Rapoport said Sunday on NFL Network (h/t OurSF49ers.)
Aiyuk has a $14.1 million player option remaining for 2024, but is currently set to hit free agency next offseason.
He recorded a career-high 1,342 receiving yards for seven touchdowns in 2023.
The wide receiver added 149 yards and one touchdown in three games in the playoffs as the 49ers advanced to the Super Bowl.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported Sunday that Aiyuk is considered “a trade candidate” if team and player cannot finalize an extension this offseason.
According to Rapoport, however, that’s not what the 49ers are currently planning on.
Although general manager John Lynch referred to Aiyuk’s potential extension as a “challenge” last week, he also described the wide receiver as someone the 49ers hope to retain, per Charean Williams of NBC Sports.
“Brandon’s one that we think incredibly highly of, one of my favorite guys around our building, the way he approaches the game… I think we’ve got a nice track record of extending the players that are important to us, and Brandon’s the guy we want to keep around for a long time,” Lynch said Tuesday.
Aiyuk received a team-high targets in 2023 on his way to recording a four-digit receiving-yard total for the second consecutive season. 49ers rookie quarterback Brock Purdy said in November that he and Aiyuk have “faith in each other,” per Dieter Kurtenbach of The Mercury News.
That relationship with Purdy presents a compelling reason for the 49ers to keep him as part of their future plans. All that remains to be seen is if the two sides can settle on a number.
Spotrac pegs the value of Aiyuk’s upcoming contract as a four-year deal at $22.9 million annually, a steep price for a team already over the 2024 cap.
