The word most commonly attached to the San Francisco 49ers' situation with Brandon Aiyuk is 'fluid'.
Rarely has a descriptor been more accurate.
Earlier on Tuesday, it was reported by NFL Media's Ian Rapoport that the 49ers had a trade deal in place that would send Aiyuk to the Pittsburgh Steelers, though he stressed that did not mean a trade was imminent. He added the 49ers had made a new contract offer to Aiyuk that had not been accepted.
Rapoport's report served as the most compelling evidence yet that a trade could be on the horizon . However, just a matter of hours later, his colleague Mike Garafolo provided information to indicate that the 49ers could be on the verge of signing Aiyuk to a long-term deal.
Speaking on NFL Network's 'The Insiders', Garafolo said: "What I've been told is that Brandon Aiyuk would prefer to stay with the 49ers, and has always preferred to stay with the 49ers, all things being equal.
"Now, they haven't been equal, but they did make that offer. In fact, both sides sent proposals within the last, I don't know, couple days, week or so, and the 49ers' number has gotten better than what it was previously.
"From my understanding, they have agreed on a lot of the main points of the deal. Their offers are in line, but it sounds like there's just one more thing that needs to be ironed out. And if that thing gets ironed out, Brandon Aiyuk signs the deal, he stays with the 49ers, he drops the trade request, and finally, [he] can put this situation behind him, and the Niners can put it behind [them].
"As far as Aiyuk is concerned, it sounds like the ball is in the 49ers' court, and he's hoping that they can just make the final adjustment and get this thing done and stay with the Niners. We'll see."
The 49ers' previous offer was reported to be a deal that would pay Aiyuk $26 million annually. Aiyuk was said to want a deal in the same region as the contract the Detroit Lions gave to Amon-Ra St. Brown, who signed a four-year, $120 million extension reportedly worth $28 million a year over the first three years.
Garafolo's comments makes it sound as if the 49ers have met those demands. So what is likely to be the hold up?
The most obvious answer is guaranteed money. St Brown's deal has guarantees totaling $77 million, while D.J. Moore's deal with the Chicago Bears features over $81 million in total guarantees. Both those players have delivered similar production to Aiyuk over recent seasons, so it would be no surprise if he is seeking guaranteed money akin to what they have received.
San Francisco is known for backloading its deals with the more punitive cap hits coming later in the contract. As such, the structure of the deal could also be the mystery sticking point.
But Garafolo's assertion that the two sides are not far apart is the most optimistic statement made by any reporter regarding the negotiations throughout this arduous saga. Between the trade the 49ers have agreed with the Steelers and the point they have reached in contract talks with Aiyuk, the Niners have two separate finishing lines in front of them. Now it's just a matter of which one they choose to cross.
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