'Game of semantics': Insider shares trade update on Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers

NFL Media's Mike Garafolo reported earlier this week that San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk was "no closer to a deal" but also "no closer to a trade request" regarding his desire to receive an extension while in the final year of his rookie contract.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk later shared an interesting update on the situation that flew somewhat under the radar.

"There’s a game of semantics going on between the 49ers and Aiyuk," Florio explained. "Even if he hasn’t asked to be traded, we believe his agent was given permission to seek a trade before the draft. The goal, we also believe, was to let Aiyuk realize that no one else was willing to give him the $30M per year he reportedly has been seeking."

It was suggested as recently as last week that the extension Amon-Ra St. Brown received from the Detroit Lions earlier this offseason had become "the fly in the ointment for the 49ers" in their discussions with Aiyuk. St. Brown's four-year extension includes $77M in guaranteed money and could be worth up to $120M. Florio indicated the market may be working against Aiyuk this summer.

"Ultimately, no one was willing to give Aiyuk what he wants in a contract and what the 49ers want in a trade," Florio added. "Otherwise, a trade would have happened."

San Francisco has Aiyuk under contract for this season and can use the franchise tag to hold onto his rights through the start of the next NFL year. Thus, the club can place a high price tag (such as a first-round draft pick) on his services.

A receiver-needy team such as the Washington Commanders, Pittsburgh Steelers or New England Patriots may be willing to pay Aiyuk, but they clearly don't want to give the 49ers a top draft asset in order to do so.

Florio mentioned that Aiyuk "might have to take a stand" to get what he wants from the 49ers before Week 1 of the upcoming campaign. While things change quickly in the NFL, there's currently no indication the 26-year-old would forfeit money by sitting out regular-season games in an attempt to sign a deal before 2025.