Brandon Aiyuk has spoken.
There remains no sign of a contract accord, but Aiyuk revealed he envisions returning to the 49ers, who drafted him in the 2020 first round and whom he’s led with more than 1,000 yards receiving the past two seasons.
“If I were to take a guess, probably a Niner uniform (in 2024). Probably a Niner uniform,” Aiyuk said on The Pivot podcast, which aired Friday and was recorded prior to Monday’s meeting he arranged with 49ers officials. “If not a Niners uniform, probably a Washington Commanders uniform. If not a Washington Commanders uniform, probably a Steelers uniform.”
The 49ers hierarchy — coach Kyle Shanahan, general manager John Lynch and owner Jed York — have maintained all offseason they hope to retain Aiyuk. He claimed the contrary in a recent TikTok video, but, in the hour-long podcast, he basked in the attention created by this offseason’s often-cryptic social media posts.
“We’re starting to get our own footage, recording everything, just enjoying the process,” Aiyuk said. “Just have my lady record everything that’s going on, so I can look back on it, because it’s an exciting time. It’s stressful, but it’s exciting. I want to have these memories.”
ESPN’s Ryan Clark, who co-hosts The Pivot podcast with fellow NFL alumni Channing Crowder and Fred Taylor, outright questioned Aiyuk’s claim that the 49ers don’t want him back.
“They told me that they didn’t think that we were on the same page and that they didn’t believe that we were going to,” Aiyuk said. “And that was about it at that time. But it’s part of it. It’s part of the contract negotiations, trying to sway stuff in either direction. So whether that’s 100% true or not, I guess that’s still to find out.”
The 49ers report to training camp July 23. If Aiyuk does not report, he is subject to $50,000 in daily fines. Boycotting the mandatory minicamp could cost him $100,000. A year ago, Nick Bosa did not report to training camp and his fines were waived upon signing the largest contract for a non-quarterback, with that deal brokered just days before the season opener — for the then-reigning NFL defensive player of the year.
Although the 49ers have rewarded a homegrown player with a market-setting contract extension annually the past four summers, Aiyuk has proved more anxious to get a deal done. And he’s publicly been the most skeptical of anyone that it may not happen.
“Throughout this process, there were times we were super close, where I’d tell people and my agent, ‘Let me get my suit ready. I’m headed back to the Bay. I’ve got to get right to sign this contract,’ “ Aiyuk recalled. “There were times in this past month or so, you could say we were pretty far apart.”
Neither the 49ers nor Aiyuk’s agent, Ryan Williams, have publicly revealed any details about the negotiations, although veteran NFL reporter Mike Silver told KNBR 680-AM earlier this month that the 49ers offered Aiyuk about $26 million annually. Aiyuk is under contract for 2024, on a $14.1 million salary for his fifth-year option to his rookie deal.
“For actual numbers and stuff to come out, I felt it was a little disrespectful and unfair to me,” Aiyuk said. “But that’s part of it. It’s a dirty game.”
Aiyuk said at one point this offseason, he’d be on the phone for two hours with his agent, who’d then talk for an hour with the 49ers, all before the wide receiver market exploded with bigger deals, such as Minnesota’s $35 million annual extension for Justin Jefferson.
“The market changed. The market is what it is,” Aiyuk said.
“... We really haven’t agreed this entire time.”
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