Brandon Aiyuk hasn't been shy about airing his frustrations during his protracted contract negotiations with the San Francisco 49ers.
From recently claiming the 49ers did not want him back in a FaceTime call with Jayden Daniels posted on social media, to then this week requesting a meeting with the 49ers to seemingly discuss his grievances, it's clear he isn't exactly happy.
Part of the irritation for the All-Pro wide receiver may stem from the fact he knows the 49ers still hold most of the cards in the stand-off, as former NFL executive Randy Mueller laid out in a piece for The Athletic .
The former New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins GM wrote: "Aiyuk has the short straw. He has a contract for 2024 that will pay him $14.1 million, and under the current CBA, holding out of training camp is not a viable option.
"If the 49ers wanted to play hardball, they could make Aiyuk play for that and then franchise-tag him for 2025. The tag for wide receivers (which the Cincinnati Bengals' Tee Higgins received this offseason) is worth $21.8 million in 2024. It is projected to rise near $25 million in 2025, which would put Aiyuk around $39 million over the next two years.
"I'm not suggesting the 49ers should play hardball, but they could if they wanted to. That's leverage. Obviously, Aiyuk's representation knows this.
"In Kyle Shanahan's offense, they have some versatile personnel, so they are not desperate to get Aiyuk signed right now."
It has been widely reported that Aiyuk is looking to land a deal that beats the four-year, $120 million extension Amon-Ra St. Brown signed with the Detroit Lions earlier this offseason.
Despite the leverage being in the Niners' favor, Mueller believes Aiyuk will ultimately get his wish.
"The fly in the ointment for the 49ers is St. Brown's contract," he added. "Most in the NFL would consider Aiyuk a better all-around player than St. Brown, whose deal caused much back-channel conversation within the league. That's the one bit of leverage Aiyuk has that might have some traction with the 49ers' brass. Because of that deal alone, they might have to go to $31 million per year.
"Ultimately, I expect Aiyuk would sign for around $30 million to $32 million annually with about $50 million fully guaranteed. That would give him something to hang his hat on. The question then becomes: Do the 49ers value him that much more than their other options, even if that cost is a bit more than what they had budgeted? I think a deal will get done before camp starts, when time is of the essence."
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Mueller's analysis is the apparent league-wide opinion that Aiyuk is a superior receiver to St. Brown.
St. Brown had 1,515 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns last season and was first-team All-Pro. Aiyuk was second-team All-Pro with 1,342 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. While both have posted successive 1,000-yard seasons, St. Brown (3,588) has under 400 fewer receiving yards than Aiyuk (3,931) in his career and has 22 total touchdowns to Aiyuk's 27 despite entering the league a year later.
Aiyuk, however, has proven himself to be a more explosive receiver , averaging 14.6 yards per reception to St. Brown's 11.4, while establishing himself as one of the best deep threats in the NFL last year.
In a league in which success is largely contingent on producing those explosive plays, Aiyuk's greater proclivity for producing may be the reason he is a held in higher regard.
The challenge for the 49ers remains to produce an offer that adequately reflects the esteem in which they hold Aiyuk. Time is still on their side with veterans not due to report to training camp until July 23 but, the closer that soft deadline creeps, the more likely it is that the Niners will blink and hand Aiyuk a contract perhaps not reflective of the leverage they possess.
Related: NFL insider believes 49ers should take advantage of coach's connection with former All-Pro free agent
Local San Francisco, CA
Most Popular
Comments / 0