Brandon Aiyuk reflects on the challenging contract negotiations and his commitment to the team after signing a four-year, $120 million extension with the San Francisco 49ers. (Photo by Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
TEMPE – Former Arizona State wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has evolved into one of the top NFL wide receivers, much like first-year Arizona State wide receivers coach Hines Ward accomplished during his playing days. Now, with a fresh four-year, $120 million extension from the San Francisco 49ers, Aiyuk is also one of the top-earning players at his position like Ward.
Aiyuk and the San Francisco 49ers came to terms on a four-year, $120 million extension last week, according to NFL Network insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo. Aiyuk’s new deal includes $76 million in guaranteed money. The deal comes as the NFL season opens this week, with the 49ers hosting the New York Jets Monday night.
Aiyuk is now one of the NFL’s top 10 highest-paid wide receivers, trailing only Amon-Ra St. Brown, A.J. Brown, Cedee Lamb and Justin Jefferson in average salary per year.
“As a player you just want to be compensated with what the market is going for,” Arizona State receivers coach Hines Ward said. “(The NFL is) a business and in these situations the only leverage you have as a player is holding out. You can really hold out for a whole half of the season and in order to get something out of it. But you just hope it doesn’t go that far.”
When the 49ers and Aiyuk’s camp started discussing a new contract in March, there was optimism that the two sides weren’t far away from reaching a new deal. However, Aiyuk grew frustrated with the conflicting views on what his on-field value warranted and San Francisco’s unwillingness to increase its offer.
“The talks (between Aiyuk and the 49ers) got a little hairy and a little dicey,” San Francisco Gate reporter Alex Simon said. “And in any contract discussion, negotiations are difficult because there’s a lot of emotions involved. It’s somebody’s financial future at play, and there’s a lot of ego involved when you get to the top of the athletic goal, especially in the NFL, and in a position like wide receiver.”
Keeping Aiyuk for the long haul was always San Francisco’s goal, but the odds of him staying appeared slim at multiple points this summer. The lack of progress made Aiyuk question his long-term future in the Bay Area, eventually sparking his trade request and his “hold-in” at training camp.
Subject to fines and further punishment by the 49ers, Aiyuk had few options, unless he was willing to risk injury without long-term financial security. The 49ers reportedly had the framework for trades in place with the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots, but Aiyuk’s reluctance to play for either franchise held up the deals.
“If Brandon Aiyuk truly desired a change of scenery, the deals and contract offers were arranged to facilitate his trade request,” Simon said. “And yet here he is signed back with the 49ers. That shows me it never reached a point of him wanting out, despite him getting close to walking the plank and jumping into the sea with a new team.
“He resolved to stay and settle with the available contract offer. There were moments where many people, not just the insiders, but even those of us around, realized how tenuous this all was.”
After the signing ended the saga, Aiyuk reflected in a candid manner.
"I'm not going to lie, I made it a little bit more difficult than it needed to [be] at the end." 😂
Aiyuk on how the twists and turns of his negotiations might have frustrated John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan pic.twitter.com/6MSmG6fMdC
— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) September 3, 2024
“I’m not going to lie, I made it a little bit more difficult than it needed to (be) at the end,” Aiyuk told reporters. “Ultimately, I wanted to be here. I ended up being here, so I’m happy. I’m good, I’m ready to go.”
Aiyuk’s “hold-in” paid off with a new deal in place right before the start of the 2024 regular season. Now he’s focused on helping the 49ers cash in on reaching Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.
“I’m happy that both sides came to terms on a new deal,” Ward said. “San Francisco needs all the weapons they have to get an opportunity to win the Super Bowl. I know he’s a special player.”