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One of many greatest storylines heading into the NFL season this yr is the uncertainty round Brandon Aiyuk’s contract. Going into his fifth yr on the again of a stellar 2023 season with 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns, Aiyuk anticipated a profitable provide from the 49ers, which has but to materialize, ensuing within the participant sitting out the minicamp. Whereas these are frequent pressurizing ploys by gamers, the WR’s latest TikTok video has made issues even messier.
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Aiyuk, in a video on his TikTok, could be seen telling his former faculty teammate Jayden Daniels, “They (the 49ers) stated they don’t need me again.” Whereas reviews did point out that talks had been stalled between the workforce and the participant, Aiyuk brazenly insinuating it on social media is troublesome.
That stated, whereas many inferred Aiyuk’s video as a transparent indication that the 49ers search to commerce the WR this low season, veteran NFL analyst Mike Florio thinks in any other case. In his latest YouTube video look, Florio asserted that the 49ers would favor holding onto the likes of Kittle, Deebo Samuel, and Brandon Aiyuk for the 2023 season earlier than taking a name on whether or not they need the gamers round.
The analyst, nevertheless, did admit that Aiyuk’s TikTok video will need to have thrown a wrench into their plans, contemplating the leverage it provides to the opposite gamers nearing the top of their contracts.
“I actually do suppose the 49ers had been hoping to carry the band collectively another yr after which determine it out… it may need been subsequent yr, who is aware of? [Maybe] transfer on from George Kittle, transfer on from Samuel and pay Brandon Aiyuk… The complication from yesterday was that Aiyuk in a FaceTime dialog along with his former Arizona State teammate Jayden Daniels… informed [that] the 49ers stated they don’t need me,” Florio stated.
“I actually don’t perceive that as a result of I feel they’d like to have him for 14.1 [million]. I feel he’s referring to after this yr. I might suspect the message he’s gotten is we wish you at your fifth yr choice after which subsequent yr you understand who is aware of… tag and commerce… or not tag him in any respect and let him stroll,” he continued.
Nevertheless, on the flip facet, if the 49ers had been to essentially eliminate Aiyuk this season, they’d place all their bets on Ricky Pearsall and hope for a stellar draft choose subsequent yr.
“But when they’ve determined we’re simply not going to pay this man 30 million a yr, they’ll hope Ricky Pearsall develops, [and] go discover any individual else within the draft. That is the place the rubber goes to fulfill the street because it pertains to the receiver place,” Florio added.
To sum it up, the 49ers, with a couple of of their key gamers nearing the top of their contract, are in a precarious place the place they should take the arduous calls. The perfect final result for the San Francisco-based workforce can be to have Deebo Samuel at his cap quantity, restructure George Kittle as per wage cap, and get Aiyuk to attend for the fifth yr.
However with the star wideout displaying disdain and lacking the obligatory minicamp, a contract extension decision within the subsequent few months appears to be like powerful. However, not rewarding Aiyuk with a deserving contract goes towards the 49ers’ observe, which has constantly rewarded its star performers.
From Deebo Samuel in 2022 to Nick Bosa in 2023, the 49ers by no means draw back from handing out big-money contracts. Certainly, the 49ers have at present gotten their palms tied with the wage cap. Nevertheless, analysts consider that extending Aiyuk now can be a masterstroke monetary choice for them.
Affording Brandon Aiyuk: Can the 49ers Get It Carried out?
Earlier this month, Bleacher Reviews’ Kristopher Knox predicted Aiyuk’s superb contract valuation ought to be 4 years, $120.1 million, with $80 million in assured cash. Knox got here up with this quantity contemplating the latest offers involving Justin Jefferson and A.J. Brown, amongst different WRs, which reset the wage market.
For the 49ers, affording a $30 million each year wage is a tricky ask contemplating they only have $25 million in cap area and have Brock Purdy’s extension to take care of in 2025. Nevertheless, if San Francisco had been to backload Aiyuk’s extension to 2025, awarding the WR a $120 million contract turns into possible.
Over The Cap at present initiatives the 49ers to have $55 million and $227.7 million in cap area in 2025 and 2026, respectively. So, if issues stay even remotely the way in which they’re, the 49ers can proceed to unearth extra gems like Purdy and Aiyuk with out issues about becoming them into the wage cap.
Furthermore, from a sporting angle, the deal is sensible. The huge receiver market is just going to blow up from right here on, and it will be a wise transfer from the 49ers to safe Aiyuk at $30 million per yr now, which, within the present trajectory, may seem like a steal within the coming years.
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