<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3W6o33_0vEnBHmh00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3W6o33_0vEnBHmh00" width="1600" height="900" >The 49ers have agreed to terms with Aiyuk on a four-year, $120M deal, which Garafolo and Rapoport indicate includes $76M guaranteed. This process will end closer to Aiyuk’s believed price point than San Francisco’s, but the defending NFC champs will have the second-team All-Pro back at work soon.Aiyuk held in for 38 days, but as the 49ers did with Nick Bosa and Deebo Samuel, a late-summer extension will bring a close to this chapter. Though, this was a more memorable saga than those involving Bosa and Samuel. Aiyuk is now signed through 2028, and this agreement suddenly brings Samuel’s Bay Area future — post-2024, that is — into question.It looks as though the sides are meeting in the middle. Rather than sign a three-year deal like Samuel did in 2022, Aiyuk will be under 49ers control for four seasons beyond 2024. Instead of the $26-$27M-per-year price point San Francisco — and would-be trade partner Pittsburgh — initially landed on, Aiyuk will become the NFL’s sixth $30M-per-year wideout. He will join Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb, A.J. Brown, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Tyreek Hill in this club, one that expanded considerably this offseason.Lamb’s extension may not have driven the 49ers’ talks across the goal line, as he and Jefferson are on a higher plane in terms of AAV and guarantees. But the market is effectively set for 2024, unless the Bengals make an unexpected deal with Ja’Marr Chase before 2025. This coming to fruition less than two weeks before the season will wrap one of more voluminous sagas in PFR history.This is a front-loaded deal, <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/49ers-brandon-aiuyuk-stirke-deal-on-four-year-extension">per Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio</a>, who reports the contract includes $90M over the first three years. Although Aiyuk is now contracted through his age-30 season, he should have another chance — should the 2020 first-rounder’s career remain on this trajectory — to cash in on a big-ticket deal in his prime. Aiyuk, 26, will receive $47M between now and April 1, 2025, <a href="https://x.com/RapSheet/status/1829291777062564032">Rapoport adds</a>.San Francisco’s resolution does not appear to have involved an 11th-hour raise, as <a href="https://x.com/DMRussini/status/1829292667165122592">The Athletic’s Dianna Russini notes</a> these numbers have been in place for weeks. Aiyuk, who has watched practices at points and been absent from practice fields at others, now must return to work ahead of the 49ers’ "Monday Night Football" debut against the Jets. Providing clarity, <a href="https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/1829292307931443618">Schefter adds</a> this offer has been on the table since Aug. 10.The 49ers have now dispensed with one half of their disgruntled-player contingent, with Trent Williams‘ holdout now moving toward center stage. Williams’ contract issue has a long way to go to catch Aiyuk in terms of updates, with this back-and-forth producing many twists and turns since the parties began negotiating months ago.For the 49ers, this keeps an essential piece of the puzzle in place. A trade at this juncture would have made it difficult for the team, Kyle Shanahan‘s talents notwithstanding, to produce an offense on the level of 2023’s machine. The 49ers have now extended Aiyuk and Christian McCaffrey this year; Samuel and George Kittle are under contract through 2025. Aiyuk is coming off his second straight 1,000-yard season, with the Arizona State alum totaling 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns to help Brock Purdy deliver a historic 9.6 yards per attempt. Under the hood, Aiyuk’s numbers were even better. He ranked third among yards per route run (3.01) last season; this undoubtedly influenced his camp’s price point.Aiyuk being offered $30M per year on Aug. 10 shows how well his camp did, considering the 49ers were at $26-$27M annually before that point. This all came after the 49ers let Aiyuk shop around. Despite a reported Patriots offer north of where this 49ers deal ended up, Aiyuk did not want to be dealt to New England. The Browns put Amari Cooper, along with second- and fifth-round picks, on the table; Aiyuk expressed disappointment in a Cleveland destination. Playing for Mike Tomlin <a href="https://www.profootballrumors.com/2024/08/mike-tomlin-driving-brandon-aiyuks-steelers-interest-latest-on-teams-extension-offer">appealed to Aiyuk</a>, but the Steelers’ offer did not exceed $28M per year. This prompted the disgruntled receiver to return to the table with 49ers brass and <a href="https://www.profootballrumors.com/2024/08/49ers-have-slight-edge-on-steelers-for-brandon-aiyuk">only minor details remained to be ironed out</a> in recent days.Even though Pittsburgh’s contract offer was not quite what Aiyuk sought, the <a href="https://www.profootballrumors.com/2024/08/steelers-have-brandon-aiyuk-trade-agreement-worked-out-49ers-extension-offer-also-in-play">sides agreed on trade framework</a>. This became a backup plan, though Aiyuk had long viewed San Francisco as his top choice. John Lynch had also continued to convey a desire for Aiyuk to be in the fold long term, and the 49ers’ top-level skill-position crew (now featuring first-round pick Ricky Pearsall) now has at least one more season to play together.The Steelers falling short for Aiyuk spotlights a thin skill corps post-Diontae Johnson. George Pickens remains the top target for Tomlin’s team and Pat Freiermuth looms as an extension candidate. Now-starter Russell Wilson, though, does not have much else of consequence to target. The team will need third-round rookie Roman Wilson, who missed training camp time due to injury, to step up early — barring a late-summer or in-season trade, that is. Even though Pittsburgh’s receiver development has shined for many years, the team’s current setup — which also features ex-Rams and Falcons contributor Van Jefferson — appears thin.A champagne problem is approaching for the 49ers. With Aiyuk now signed and a Brock Purdy extension on the team’s 2025 radar, the prospect of Samuel’s future comes into focus. The 49ers may well be in trade talks again with a high-end wide receiver next year. Samuel will be 29 ahead of his 2025 contract year, and with Pearsall on a rookie deal for a while, he would be a more logical complement to his former Arizona State teammate — assuming Purdy is indeed extended — than Samuel.That is a down-the-road issue for the 49ers, who have managed to avoid what would have been an odd trade based on their trajectory. The team, which has continued to fall short in Super Bowls and NFC Championship games, has retained the nucleus that led to overtime in Super Bowl LVIII. Aiyuk will again be in place to help Purdy and Co. navigate that elusive hurdle this season.</div></body>

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49ers putting an end to offseason drama with WR Brandon Aiyuk

The 49ers have agreed to terms with Aiyuk on a four-year, $120M deal, which Garafolo and Rapoport indicate includes $76M guaranteed. This process will end closer to Aiyuk’s believed price point than San Francisco’s, but the defending NFC champs will have the second-team All-Pro back at work soon.

49ers putting an end to offseason drama with WR Brandon Aiyuk

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