Why 49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk Differs From Trent Williams In Contract Talks

The San Francisco 49ers have of their star players looking for new deals: wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and offensive lineman Trent Williams.

Aiyuk and Williams have gone about their situations differently, with Aiyuk “holding in” (meaning he is showing up to training camp but not practicing) and Williams holding out altogether.

Obviously, Aiyuk is the bigger name. Receivers always get more shine than linemen. However, most would agree that Williams is actually more vital to the 49ers’ success.

That’s why Bleacher Report’s David Kenyon thinks that Aiyuk simply does not have as much leverage as Williams in their respective contract disputes.

While Kenyon sees Williams landing a raise, he doesn’t foresee a new deal for Aiyuk before the start of the 2024 regular season.

“San Francisco cannot adequately replace Williams at left tackle, but the receiving corps has workable depth with Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings and rookie Ricky Pearsall in a run-heavy offense,” Kenyon wrote.

Kenyon makes a great point. Williams is regarded as the best left tackle in football and is considered one of the best players in the NFL, period.

Aiyuk is terrific, but he is not among the best of the best at his position and may be asking for a bit too much money from the 49ers at the moment.

What will the 49ers do with Brandon Aiyuk?

Well, here’s the thing: San Francisco definitely stands a better chance of winning a Super Bowl with Aiyuk on the roster, so the chances of the Niners trading Aiyuk before Week 1 seem very slim.

So, even if the 49ers don’t strike a pact with Aiyuk over the next month-and-a-half, it seems hard to imagine Aiyuk playing elsewhere come the season opener.

San Francisco has obviously run into some financial issues. It made Nick Bosa the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history last year (before Minnesota Vikings wide out Justin Jefferson broke that mark last month). It signed Christian McCaffrey to an extension. It gave Deebo Samuel a fresh deal in 2022. Plus, Brock Purdy will be eligible for a contract extension next offseason.

The Niners have to draw the line somewhere, and they may very well do it with Aiyuk.

Jefferson landed a deal that pays him $35 million annually. The next highest-paid receiver in football is Philadelphia Eagles star A.J. Brown, who is earning $32 million per year.

Aiyuk is not as good as either of those pass-catchers, so he probably should be expecting to be compensated around $30-31 million annually (if not less).

Whether or not Brandon Aiyuk would go for that is anyone’s guess, but the 49ers will almost certainly have him on the field in 2024 whether he gets a new deal or not.

Want the latest NFL analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click here . Interested in reading storylines and analysis about the NBA? Check out our partner NBA Analysis Network .

The post Why 49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk Differs From Trent Williams In Contract Talks appeared first on NFL Analysis Network .