Aiyuk officially requested a trade from the 49ers on Tuesday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. Aiyuk's trade requests follows a tumultuous offseason, and though his recent meeting with the team was reported to have gone well, the star wideout is now looking to force San Francisco's hand with training camp just around the corner. It now seems realistic that Aiyuk, who is currently positioned to play out the 2024 season on a $14.12 million salary under the fifth-year option of his rookie deal, could hold out of training camp if no trade comes quickly to fruition. The 49ers selected Ricky Pearsall in the first round of April's draft, giving the team a pivot option behind top wideout Deebo Samuel should Aiyuk move on, and also brought back Jauan Jennings on a two-year deal.
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Aiyuk officially requested a trade from the 49ers on Tuesday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. Aiyuk's trade requests follows a tumultuous offseason, and though his recent meeting with the team was reported to have gone well, the star wideout is now looking to force San Francisco's hand with training camp just around the corner. It now seems realistic that Aiyuk, who is currently positioned to play out the 2024 season on a $14.12 million salary under the fifth-year option of his rookie deal, could hold out of training camp if no trade comes quickly to fruition. The 49ers selected Ricky Pearsall in the first round of April's draft, giving the team a pivot option behind top wideout Deebo Samuel should Aiyuk move on, and also brought back Jauan Jennings on a two-year deal.
Aiyuk recently told The Pivot podcast that he wants and expects to play for the 49ers this season despite being frustrated with contract negotiations at times. "If I were to take a guess, probably a Niners uniform," Aiyuk said. "But if not a Niners uniform, probably a Washington Commander uniform. " Aiyuk said there have been times when he thought he was close to signing a new contract but also other moments where it felt the two sides were far apart. He met with the 49ers last Monday, and he then told The Pivot podcast that he's currently "in the right place, with the right quarterback" but "not on the right terms." Even though Aiyuk mentioned teaming up with close friend Jayden Daniels, the new QB in Washington, it sounds like the wideout still prefers San Francisco if he can get the contract he wants (or something close to it).
Aiyuk and the 49ers had a meeting Monday that Tom Pelissero of NFL Network described as "good," and both sides are continuing to work toward a contract extension, Grant Gordon of NFL.com reports. Aiyuk, who held out of mandatory minicamp earlier this month, requested a meeting with San Francisco roughly one week after posting a video in which he told Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, whom he played with at Arizona State, that the 49ers "said they don't want me back," per Nick Wagoner of ESPN. It seems things have landed in a more amicable place following Monday's most recent meeting, though there still aren't any signs that an agreement on a new contract is immediately around the corner. As it stands, Aiyuk remains in line to play under the fifth-year option on his rookie contract for $14.12 million for 2025, but if that doesn't change by the start of training camp tensions could come to a head, especially if he continues to hold out. The 26-year-old is coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving campaigns and has been one of the most efficient wide receivers in the league in Kyle Shanahan offenses.
Aiyuk expressed frustration Monday with the progress of contract negotiations, and while the 49ers remain interested in re-signing him, it's only on a cheaper deal than what he's looking for, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Aiyuk posted a TikTok video in which he says, "they don't want me," in an apparent reference to the 49ers. Rapoport says he doesn't think negotiations are "completely dead" even though there seems to be a big money gap between the two sides. While Aiyuk's post may add fuel to the fire of trade rumors, it's still possible the 49ers keep him in a contract year even if they aren't able to work out a long-term deal. He was a holdout during June minicamp and may not show up for the start of training camp if he's still set to play out 2025 under the fifth-year option on his rookie contract for $14.12 million.
Aiyuk is not present at 49ers minicamp this week as he seeks a new contract, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. This was expected after Aiyuk didn't report for voluntary OTAs following an offseason full of trade speculation. Aiyuk ultimately wasn't traded, and the two sides have reportedly engaged in dialogue regarding a new deal, though nothing has seemed to advance further than the talking stage. Aiyuk is currently set to collect a $14.124 million salary in 2024, the final year of his rookie deal. He's one of the many receivers around the league set to be paid handsomely. It's unclear if San Francisco plans to meet his demands.
Aiyuk remains away from team facilities for OTAs as he continues to negotiate for a contract extension, Kevin Patra of NFL.com reports. Aiyuk wasn't present at San Francisco's facilities for activities back in April, so it's unsurprising to see him still absent for voluntary OTAs. It remains to be seen, however, whether the wideout will consider an extended holdout if contract talks remain at a stall when mandatory minicamp kicks off. Aiyuk is currently slated to play out the 2024 season on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract, which would pay him $14.12 million, while recent contracts for the top players at his position have landed in the range of $30 million annually. The 49ers did draft Ricky Pearsall in the first round of April's draft and have Jauan Jennings returning behind top wideout Deebo Samuel, giving the team some additional leverage in negotiations.
49ers GM John Lynch recently told ESPN's Pat McAfee Show that he doesn't want to trade Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel despite taking Ricky Pearsall in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Trade rumors earlier in the offseason centered on Aiyuk, who is scheduled to play out 2024 under the fifth-year option on his rookie contract. After the Niners drafted Pearsall, a few reporters suggested Samuel was actually more likely to be moved, in which case the Niners presumably would place greater emphasis on signing Aiyuk to a long-term deal. It now appears both will stay with the team this season, as will returning No. 3 receiver Jauan Jennings. That's not a guarantee, but it at least seems more likely that spring 2025 will be the break-up date for San Francisco's veteran WR corps. Aiyuk and Jennings are only under contract through 2024, while Samuel has two more year on his deal but no guaranteed money after this season.
GM John Lynch said Monday that the 49ers are having "good talks" with Aiyuk, who hasn't been at the team facility for the offseason program, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports. Aiyuk is unlikely to show up for voluntary workouts without a new contract in hand, but that doesn't necessarily mean he'll hold out from mandatory minicamp in June if the two sides haven't reached an agreement by then. The 26-year-old's agent denied reports of a trade request last weekend, and it sounds like there's still hope for a long-term contract heading into the fifth and final year of Aiyuk's rookie deal. He's scheduled to make $14.12 million under the fifth-year option, whereas a multi-year deal likely would entail a large signing bonus and an annual average value well north of $20 million. Making it work for the 2024 season isn't an issue, but the Niners may be hesitant to pay Aiyuk at market value long term when they already have six players scheduled for cap hits north of $20 million in 2025, including WR Deebo Samuel and TE George Kittle. Even then, it's a workable situation, as they've got a starting QB on a late-round-rookie contract and don't owe large sums of guaranteed money beyond the current year to anyone besides DE Nick Bosa.
Aiyuk's agent, Ryan Williams of Athletes First, denied reports on social media Sunday that the wide receiver has requested a trade from the 49ers, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. Aiyuk's contract status has been a matter of intense speculation throughout the offseason, with San Francisco GM John Lynch saying in late February that the organization is seeking a long-term contract extension with the wideout and then denying reports that the 49ers were engaged in trade discussions regarding Aiyuk about a month later. While some chatter surfaced Sunday suggesting that Aiyuk had officially requested a trade out of San Francisco, his agent swiftly shot down the sources of that information on social media, so the status of the receiver's contract talks with the organization that drafted him in 2020 remains uncertain. An extension isn't a necessity for Aiyuk to suit up for the 49ers next season -- he could play out the 2024 campaign with the club on his fifth-year option and then hit free agency next offseason.