Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
49ers GM: We Have No Intention of Dealing Brandon Aiyuk
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 9 months ago on
July 23, 2024

The San Francisco 49ers have no intention of granting star receiver Brandon Aiyuk his trade request and remain committed to getting a long-term extension done with him. (AP/Godofredo A. Vasquez)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

SANTA CLARA — The San Francisco 49ers have no intention of granting star receiver Brandon Aiyuk his trade request and remain committed to getting a long-term extension done with one of their most important offensive players.

General manager John Lynch said there are no absolutes but that the 49ers “expect Brandon to be an integral part of our team like he has been and are excited about that.”

The 49ers arrived at training camp on Tuesday, with Aiyuk showing up with the rest of his teammates, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team didn’t make an announcement. Aiyuk had skipped the entire offseason program, including a mandatory minicamp.

Aiyuk would have been subject to potential fines if he didn’t show up but he still could try to follow the path of teammate Deebo Samuel, who skipped the first four training camp practices in 2022 while negotiating for a long-term extension.

Lynch said he expects every player to practice starting Wednesday but remains focused on reaching a long-term deal with Aiyuk.

“We’ve had great communication,” Lynch said. “We started this really early. We made it a priority to try to get it done. We’ve had excellent communication throughout. I really don’t want to characterize it. We haven’t been able to and that’s a shame. But Brandon’s a big part of our team, and we expect that he will be this year.”

49ers Have Rewarded Homegrown Stars With Megadeals

The Niners have done a good job rewarding their homegrown stars, handing out megadeals the past four offseasons to George Kittle, Fred Warner, Samuel and Nick Bosa.

While Samuel missed only a handful of practices in 2022, Bosa held out until a few days before the season opener last season.

Both players said the long contract disputes weighed on them and impacted their performance during those seasons. The Niners hope that isn’t the case with Aiyuk.

“NFL seasons are real hard. So any time you don’t really get to prepare the right way in training camp, it’s a challenge for all those players,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “But tons of players have gone through it. Some have bigger challenges than others. Each one’s different. … So both of those guys have their individual experiences with it. It never helps. But that’s something that’s not a new thing, something you have to deal with.”

Aiyuk Seeking Contract Extension Amid Receiver Market Boom

Aiyuk has gotten advice from his teammates who have gone through similar negotiations with Kittle passing on tips he got in 2020 from veteran Richard Sherman.

“Contract (negotiations) are like braces,” Kittle said. “They suck the entire time and then once you get them off, you forget that you ever had them. But this time, in the case of the contract, you get a big bag of money. … I just try to tell him, it’s a horrible process. I hated the entire process when I was going through it. Bosa’s last year was awful. He didn’t get it done until the first week of the season. It’s not fun.”

Aiyuk is currently under the fifth-year option worth about $14.1 million this season. Eight receivers before Aiyuk had signed contracts worth at least $70 million already this offseason with Justin Jefferson’s four-year, $140 million extension with Minnesota setting the top of the market.

Aiyuk Is a Key Part of 49ers’ Offense

Aiyuk was a key part of San Francisco’s offense last season as he formed a great connection with Purdy. Aiyuk had 75 catches and a career-high 1,375 yards last season with seven touchdowns as he earned second-team All-Pro honors.

He put up those numbers on an offense that passed at the second-lowest rate in the NFL last season and had several other star playmakers such as Samuel, Kittle and All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey.

Aiyuk’s 12.8 average yards receiving per target were the highest mark for any player with at least 75 targets in a season since Jordy Nelson averaged 13.2 for Green Bay in 2011.

Aiyuk has 269 catches for 3,931 yards and 25 TDs in four seasons since being drafted 25th overall in 2020 but has taken off since Purdy became quarterback with eight of his 11 100-yard receiving games in his career coming with Purdy as starter.

NOTES: First-round WR Ricky Pearsall will miss at least the first four practices of training camp after injuring his hamstring working out on his own. … LB Dre Greenlaw (Achilles), S Talanoa Hufanga (knee) and DE Drake Jackson (knee) will open camp on the physically unable to perform list as they work back from injuries from last season. … Kittle (core), CB Charvarius Ward (core), C Jake Brendel (knee) are cleared to practice.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Driving Near the Fresno Airport Next Week? Plan for Road Closures

DON'T MISS

Misty Her: Push for Fresno Unified Turnaround Starts Now With ‘Boots on the Ground’

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Arrest 17 in Domestic Violence Crackdown

DON'T MISS

What’s Next for Fresno Smoke Shop Ordinance: Lawsuit, Veto, Override?

DON'T MISS

Visalia Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for 2019 Fatal Stabbing

DON'T MISS

Fresno Man Arrested in 2004 Cold Case Rape and Murder

DON'T MISS

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Willie Ray Butler

DON'T MISS

California’s Economy Ranks Fourth Worldwide, Surpasses Japan

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Traffic Stop Leads to $600K Cocaine Bust

DON'T MISS

Fresno Ranks Fourth in US for an Affordable Night Out

UP NEXT

Misty Her: Push for Fresno Unified Turnaround Starts Now With ‘Boots on the Ground’

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Arrest 17 in Domestic Violence Crackdown

UP NEXT

What’s Next for Fresno Smoke Shop Ordinance: Lawsuit, Veto, Override?

UP NEXT

Visalia Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for 2019 Fatal Stabbing

UP NEXT

Fresno Man Arrested in 2004 Cold Case Rape and Murder

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Willie Ray Butler

UP NEXT

California’s Economy Ranks Fourth Worldwide, Surpasses Japan

UP NEXT

Fresno County Traffic Stop Leads to $600K Cocaine Bust

UP NEXT

Fresno Ranks Fourth in US for an Affordable Night Out

UP NEXT

New US SEC Chair Says Crypto Sector Deserves Clear Regulations

What’s Next for Fresno Smoke Shop Ordinance: Lawsuit, Veto, Override?

2 hours ago

Visalia Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for 2019 Fatal Stabbing

2 hours ago

Fresno Man Arrested in 2004 Cold Case Rape and Murder

3 hours ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Willie Ray Butler

4 hours ago

California’s Economy Ranks Fourth Worldwide, Surpasses Japan

4 hours ago

Fresno County Traffic Stop Leads to $600K Cocaine Bust

4 hours ago

Fresno Ranks Fourth in US for an Affordable Night Out

4 hours ago

New US SEC Chair Says Crypto Sector Deserves Clear Regulations

4 hours ago

US Officials Arrest Milwaukee Judge for Obstructing Immigration Operation

5 hours ago

Exclusive: US Congress Republicans Seek $27 Billion for Golden Dome in Trump Tax Bill

6 hours ago

Driving Near the Fresno Airport Next Week? Plan for Road Closures

Your route to Fresno Yosemite International Airport or to jobs and schools near there may slow to a crawl next week. Fresno is conducting ro...

15 minutes ago

15 minutes ago

Driving Near the Fresno Airport Next Week? Plan for Road Closures

44 minutes ago

Misty Her: Push for Fresno Unified Turnaround Starts Now With ‘Boots on the Ground’

Fresno police are seeking two suspects who stole several boxes of shoes from the WSS store on East Cesar Chavez Boulevard on February 20, 2025.
51 minutes ago

Fresno Police Arrest 17 in Domestic Violence Crackdown

2 hours ago

What’s Next for Fresno Smoke Shop Ordinance: Lawsuit, Veto, Override?

A Tulare County jury convicted Isaiah Elias Garcia, 25, on Friday, March 28, 2025, of second-degree murder for fatally stabbing a man during a 2019 fight in Visalia. (Tulare County DA)
2 hours ago

Visalia Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for 2019 Fatal Stabbing

Robert Castillo (left), 61, of Fresno, has been arrested in the 2004 murder and sexual assault of Barbara Lee after DNA evidence linked him to the cold case and two additional rape investigations. (Fresno County SO)
3 hours ago

Fresno Man Arrested in 2004 Cold Case Rape and Murder

Willie Ray Butler is Valley Crime Stoppers' Most Wanted Person of the Day for April 25, 2025. (Valley Crimes Stoppers)
4 hours ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Willie Ray Butler

4 hours ago

California’s Economy Ranks Fourth Worldwide, Surpasses Japan

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend