Brandon Aiyuk of the 49ers is aiming for a new contract for $120 million from Amon-Ra St. Brown.
It was anticipated that receiver Brandon Aiyuk would miss the San Francisco 49ers’ organized team activities (OTAs) last week due to the two sides’ ongoing contract disagreement. According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Aiyuk and the 49ers aren’t close to reaching a contract extension. This has sparked rumors that, should he not receive the deal he desires, the fourth-year wide receiver may ask to be traded. Even though the receiver unfollowed the team on social media, Aiyuk’s representative claims the player hasn’t requested to leave San Francisco yet.
Even so, Aiyuk and his agent may have been able to get the number they are looking for in a new contract from a previously signed contract by another NFL receiver. Amon-Ra St. Brown signed a four-year, $120 million contract extension with the Detroit Lions, which included $77 million in guaranteed money, just before the NFL Draft. As to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, that seems to have established the standard that Aiyuk aspires to meet. According to Fowler of “NFL Live,” “[Aiyuk] doesn’t need to be the highest paid in the league.” “But he’s done enough and accomplished enough in that offense where he’s probably going to need to be at that number or higher.” Although that provides a starting point, the statistical difference between Aiyuk and St. Brown will probably be a star.
St. Brown had 119 receptions (on 164 targets) for 1,515 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 75 first downs in the previous campaign. With 75 receptions (on 105 targets), Aiyuk gained 1,342 yards, seven touchdowns, and 61 first downs. However, Aiyuk can attribute a significant portion of his 59 fewer targets to an offense that also features Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, and George Kittle. He was the 49ers’ leader in receptions and receiving yards even though he wasn’t as featured as St. Brown.
According to Spotrac, Aiyuk’s fifth-year option salary for the 2024–25 season is $14.1 million. That is significantly less than the $30 million St. Brown will receive on average yearly from his new contract. However, St. Brown still had two years remaining on his rookie contract, and he will earn $4.9 million for 2024–2025. A.J. Brown’s $96 million deal with the Philadelphia Eagles pays him $32 million annually, the largest compensation of any receiver. Tyreek Hill of the Miami Dolphins and St. Brown are behind him, per Over the Cap.
Does Aiyuk want his income to go there? Do the 49ers believe he adds the same value to their offense as the other three, particularly with quarterback Brock Purdy and other high-profile players to pay? In 2025, the team is expected to have spent $23.9 million more than the cap. These queries illustrate the impasse in negotiations that Aiyuk and the 49ers are presently experiencing.