Bucky Brooks explains why 49ers should hold off on paying Brandon Aiyuk

A few days ago, former NFL player and current analyst Bucky Brooks made some waves on Twitter when he criticized the 49ers' receiving core in the context of the Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

His criticism was specific to the way that the Chiefs ran man coverage to shut down the 49ers' receivers. As part of the tweet , and eventual, longer thread , he wrote:

"In addition, the utilization of press-man tested the route-running skills of the 49ers’ perimeter players. While they’re great “playmakers” they are not polished or skilled route runners. Those traits were exposed when teams (SEE: KC & CLE) challenged them extensively with press-man coverage."

Brooks continued to describe the group as a whole, suggesting that the group doesn't have "polished" route-running ability, despite that being one of Aiyuk's strengths.

He joined Willard and Dibs Tuesday, and did not recant the opinion, suggesting that he never criticized Aiyuk specifically. He said Aiyuk is a good route runner, but then continued to criticize the 49ers receivers as a group against man-to-man coverage, rather than assess Aiyuk's performance specifically.

"He's a good route runner," Brooks said. I'm saying that when we talk about the best of the best, winning one-on-one, him, Deebo Samuel and all those guys. It's been proven. They don't win against the elite corners based on what they did last year."

So what about paying Aiyuk?

"Well, I don't know if you have to do anything right now with Brandon Aiyuk," Brooks said. "I know there's a rush, but like he still has the fifth-year option to play off. So what you do is you make him play on the option and then eventually you figure it out because let's be honest, after next year, they're gonna have to reset the entire program because after next year, they're gonna have to pay the quarterback."

He said he wouldn't trade Aiyuk, but that in order to pay him, the 49ers need to decide who their No. 1 receiver is, because trying to pay Aiyuk, Samuel, George Kittle, Christian McCaffrey and Trent Williams means you lose something elsewhere.

Brooks did not address the fact that Aiyuk's cap hit in 2024 would likely decrease from the roughly $14.1 million cap figure it's slated for, if he signs an extension.