Observations From Week 1 of San Francisco 49ers Training Camp

The San Francisco 49ers have encountered a slew of issues during their first week of training camp.

Of course, their two biggest problems are contract-related, as wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is holding in (meaning he is present, but not practicing) and offensive tackle Trent Williams is holding out.

Here are a few observations from the early days of 49ers camp.

Trent Williams being out is a colossal issue

It seems hard to imagine San Francisco allowing Williams to hold out much longer, because it’s pretty clear that the team desperately needs him.

Brock Purdy has not looked all that comfortable behind the offensive line (more on that in a bit), which obviously has a whole lot to do with Williams’ absence.

There are some who actually feel that Williams—not Purdy, Aiyuk or Christian McCaffrey—is the Niners’ most valuable offensive player.

Williams has earned three straight First-Team All-Pro selections and has been a Pro Bowler every year since 2012, back when he was playing for Washington.

The 36-year-old is actually under contract through 2026, but he clearly wants a revised deal. Given his age, you can understand the 49ers having trepidation about the idea, especially given that Williams has not played a full season since 2013. But based on the results so far in camp, they may have no choice but to placate his desires. An offense without Williams could be ugly.

Brandon Aiyuk is sending a message

That Aiyuk is in training camp is a good sign. He is there with his teammates. He is letting everyone know that he is still a member of the team.

The fact that Aiyuk is present is his way of letting the 49ers know, “Hey, I want to be here, but please just pay me what I am worth.”

Aiyuk is entering the final year of his deal, and in spite of him flirting with the idea of playing with former Arizona State teammate Jayden Daniels in Washington, he clearly wants to remain in the Bay Area.

The question is whether or not the Niners will actually compensate him.

We don’t know how much money Aiyuk is asking for, but you have to figure it is in excess of $30 million annually. Justin Jefferson is the league’s highest-paid receiver at $35 million per year. A.J. Brown comes in second at $32 million.

Aiyuk certainly isn’t Jefferson, and he isn’t on Brown’s level, either. Realistically speaking, he should probably land a deal around $30-31 million annually, but he may be looking for more than that.

The 49ers almost certainly won’t be trading him. Aiyuk surely knows this, too. That’s why he’s at camp. But in order to avoid any headaches over the next several weeks, San Francisco may be left with no choice but to sit down at the negotiating table and hammer out a new deal.

Simply going into 2024 with Aiyuk on a lame duck contract could cause massive locker-room issues.

Brock Purdy needs Brandon Aiyuk

Purdy has not looked good in training camp thus far.

We know that Purdy is an accurate passer who is terrific at finding receivers on short and intermediate routes. That’s why he has developed such a strong connection with Deebo Samuel and tight end George Kittle. But in terms of throwing the deep ball? That’s where Purdy labors.

Purdy’s struggles in going long have been on full display in the 49ers’ first week of practice. As a matter of fact, on Friday, he didn’t complete a single deep ball ( per Grant Cohn of Sports Illustrated ). And you know who is a pretty viable deep threat? Aiyuk.

Let’s put the tired game manager talk to the side for a second: there is no question that Aiyuk makes Purdy’s job a heck of a lot easier.

Aiyuk may not be Tyreek Hill, but he is a terrific receiver who is absolutely capable of stretching the field and making contested catches on deep throws.

It’s just all the more evidence that San Francisco needs a content Aiyuk on the field in Week 1.

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