John Lynch: 49ers want to keep Brandon Aiyuk around for a long time (2024)

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John Lynch: 49ers want to keep Brandon Aiyuk around for a long time? ›

“He's served us very well as a franchise, and I think we've got a nice track record of extending the players that are important to us,” Lynch told reporters Tuesday at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. “Brandon is someone we want to keep around for a long time.”

The Niners had no desire to trade Aiyuk then, and according to multiple team sources, had already begun planning for an Aiyuk extension to come in 2024 so long as he was able to stay healthy and build on a breakout 2022 season.

If he plays out the final year of his rookie contract, Aiyuk will make $14.1 million this year and then either get franchise tagged or become a free agent in March of 2025. Aiyuk would prefer to get a big deal now from the 49ers — or from some other team that's willing to trade for him and pay him.

There have been rumors that Aiyuk could be traded, although 49ers General Manager John Lynch responded to questions about those rumors by saying he wants to keep Aiyuk around for a long time. Asked specifically about rumors Aiyuk could be traded to Pittsburgh, Lynch answered, “I promise you, nothing's going on there.”

How long has Brandon Aiyuk been in the NFL? Aiyuk played college football at Sierra College and Arizona State and was selected by the 49ers in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft. This will be his first appearance in the Superbowl.

Aiyuk is an elite route runner and an elite blocker. He's a deep threat who's extremely tough and is not afraid to go over the middle. He's the total package. If the 49ers trade him for a first-round pick and draft a wide receiver to replace him, there's a high probability he won't be as good as Aiyuk.

Aiyuk is currently slated to play under his fifth-year option that would pay him $14.1 million for the 2024 season. Aiyuk, who played a key role in the 49ers' Super Bowl run last season, has been vocal about his desire to receive a new contract.

Aiyuk is entering the fifth-year option of his rookie contract as a first-rounder in the 2020 NFL Draft. He is due a fully guaranteed salary of $14.1 million, with the same figure as his salary cap number.

Brandon Aiyuk's base salary in 2023 is $2,318,819. Aiyuk signed his first-ever contract with the San Francisco 49ers in 2020. The overall contract is reportedly worth $12,531,342.

Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers, WR - News, Stats, Bio - CBSSports.com.

When did the 49ers get Brandon Aiyuk? ›

Aiyuk was a 2020 first-round draft pick, and the San Francisco 49ers exercised his fifth-year option last year. So, unless he extends his contract, he'll enter free agency after the 2024 season.

The 49ers have acquired DL Maliek Collins from the Texans in exchange for a 2024 seventh-round draft pick, signed DL Jordan Elliott and DL Yetur Gross-Matos to two-year deals and re-signed DL Kevin Givens to a one-year deal.

The San Francisco 49ers announced the team has signed CB Rock Ya-Sin to a one-year deal.

His 124.0 rating when targeted was in the top 10 and he earned a second-team All Pro selection. Aiyuk is also an effective and willing blocker which is essential in a Shanahan offense. Another factor in keeping Aiyuk around is QB Brock Purdy.

Niners wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who wasn't named to the Pro Bowl, was a second-team selection on the All-Pro honor roll. Niners running back Christian McCaffrey was one of three players to be a unanimous pick as an All-Pro. Niners linebacker Fred Warner was a first-team All-Pro selection for the third time.

With the confetti long gone inside Allegiant Stadium after the Kansas City Chiefs won a second straight Super Bowl, Aiyuk had an important message to send out after only posting three catches for 49 yards in defeat: “Don't forget what got you there,” he tweeted.

In an uncharacteristically aggressive move, the 49ers asked Arik Armstead to accept a significant pay cut, he refused and demanded a release to explore free agency. The 49ers let him go and will save $2.2 million against the cap.

However, 49ers General Manager said there aren't any plans to trade Aiyuk but his contract could wind up him holding out until he gets an extension. According to a report, Aiyuk wants to get paid for “what he's worth” after putting on an illustrious 2023 season alongside Deebo Samuel.

The 49ers have acquired DL Maliek Collins from the Texans in exchange for a 2024 seventh-round draft pick, signed DL Jordan Elliott and DL Yetur Gross-Matos to two-year deals and re-signed DL Kevin Givens to a one-year deal.

But if the 49ers were to trade Samuel after June 1, they would save more than $22 million against the cap. Of course, they couldn't trade him for a 2024 draft pick at that time, but they could trade him for a player, perhaps at another position.