NFL insider predicts futures of 49ers' Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel

NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated has consistently predicted since the spring that the San Francisco 49ers and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk will come to terms on some sort of agreement ahead of the 2024 season.

Aiyuk requesting a trade amid his desire for a contract extension hasn't changed Breer's mind.

"I think it gets resolved with an extension, maybe $120M over four new years, with the existing fifth-year option (attached to Aiyuk's rookie contract) folded in," Breer responded to a question about the situation for a mailbag published on Thursday.

Former NFL general manager and current analyst Randy Mueller of The Athletic noted in late June that "the fly in the ointment for the 49ers" regarding their negotiations with Aiyuk is the deal Amon-Ra St. Brown received from the Detroit Lions earlier this offseason. St. Brown signed a four-year extension that reportedly included $77M in guaranteed money and could be worth up to $120M.

Before Aiyuk reported to training camp this week for a so-called "hold in" that could last into August, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter poured cold water over trade rumors involving both the 26-year-old who is in the final year of his rookie contract , and fellow wide receiver Deebo Samuel.

Samuel is signed through the 2025 campaign, and Breer thinks San Francisco could at least consider making the versatile offensive weapon available if Aiyuk inks an extension sooner rather than later.

"I think at that point, the Niners get calls on Deebo Samuel, and it’d be interesting to see how they’d react to those, given the win-now situation they’re in," Breer continued.

49ers general manager John Lynch has repeatedly insisted since before this year's draft that he plans to hold onto Aiyuk and Samuel as the club attempts to play in a second straight Super Bowl.

As ESPN's Bill Barnwell detailed in a lengthy piece published on Thursday morning, however, Lynch will eventually have to make some difficult decisions with quarterback Brock Purdy eligible to sign a massive contract extension next offseason.

Barnwell mentioned the fact that the 49ers spent the 31st overall pick of this year's draft to acquire wide receiver Ricky Pearsall suggests either Aiyuk or Samuel won't be on the club's roster next July.