The 2024 offseason has been marred with trade rumors for the 49ers, mostly surrounding the status of Brandon Aiyuk. But while the player’s agent has downplayed speculation, the athlete has only added further to the fire.
Brandon Aiyuk is entering the fifth year of his rookie deal, set to earn a significant contract extension that would place him amongst the elite wide receivers in the NFL this offseason. Both the 49ers and Aiyuk’s agency have been in negotiations since the conclusion of Super Bowl LVIII.
However, Aiyuk has made it known his desire to be handsomely paid. The Nevada native has been linked to moves to the Las Vegas Raiders and the Pittsburgh Steelers with mysteriously social media posts by him, or his friends/family around him. Then, “BA” unfollowed the 49ers on social media earlier in the week.
The subtle messaging by the player has caused some content creators to speculate a trade is on the horizon. Those notions were shot down Thursday by Aiyuk’s agent, Ryan Williams of Athletes First.
Brandon Aiyuk is a special player and he deserves to get a deal that pays him top 5 WR money at at least $25 MM per year.
It's hilarious, though, that people get mad when we talk about speculation and trade rumors and his agent is frustrated with “fake news” reports that would… pic.twitter.com/kXM5dRdLG3
— Chase Senior (@Chase_Senior) April 19, 2024
“Another ‘report’ that couldn’t be more incorrect. Fictional ‘journalism’ should really stop,” Williams tweeted Thursday in response to a post by Chase Senior of Chat Sports.
The hyperbolic buzz surrounding Aiyuk is nothing new for a 49ers’ offseason; In fact, it’s expected based off recent history. Despite the wayward “reporting”, official beat reporters have had to chime in on the matter.
Here’s what Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area wrote this week:
Of course, Aiyuk is not taking part in the 49ers’ offseason program, which opened Monday at the team’s training facility in Santa Clara. He can be expected to not take part in any voluntary activities until the sides come together on a new contract.
And if history serves as a predictor, it could take a while.
George Kittle, Fred Warner and Deebo Samuel signed their second contracts with the team right around the opening of training camp in late July.
And Nick Bosa got his big deal last year in the middle of the week leading up to the first game of the regular season.
There are two nuggets in the quote that matter: 1. BA did not report to the 49ers’ offseason program Monday, despite contrary “reports”. 2. The contract saga could take some time before it’s pen to paper, but typically, the 49ers get the deal done.
However, the 49ers’ brass hasn’t given much to indicate a deal is close. General manager John Lynch shared earlier this offseason that Aiyuk could go into next season without a new deal, playing on his $14.1 million fifth-year option.
“We have a good history of working with the guys we want to get done, and it takes two sides,” Lynch said. “So can we do that? We’ll see.”
But while Lynch and the 49ers have stayed coy on contract talks, Aiyuk has done the opposite. The player posted this to his Instagram this morning, showing a FaceTime call with NFL prospect Jayden Daniels.
Brandon Aiyuk throwing gasoline on the trade rumors 🔥 pic.twitter.com/LalmTGF52r
— Bussin' With The Boys (@BussinWTB) April 19, 2024
While a lot would have to happen for both Aiyuk and Daniels to play together, the obvious connection from their days at Arizona State University remain at large. And with Antonio Pierce (former ASU position coach) now at the helm in Sin City, a potential reunion can’t be ruled out as a possibility.
But until it becomes official, Brandon Aiyuk remains a 49er. And if history gives us any indication, the longer he stays on the roster this summer, the more likely he’ll be there in the fall.
Only time will tell what happens. But for now, the Brandon Aiyuk offseason speculation isn’t going anywhere.
