Amidst the ongoing contract negotiations, Brandon Aiyuk’s demands have escalated following the Detroit Lions’ recent extension with Amon-Ra St. Brown. St. Brown’s lucrative four-year, $120 million deal, with $77 million guaranteed, has set a new benchmark for wide receiver pay in the NFL. This has put the 49ers in a difficult position as they attempt to retain Aiyuk, whose contract is set to expire after the 2023 season.
To keep Aiyuk, the 49ers will likely need to match or exceed St. Brown’s contract offer. However, it remains unclear whether the 49ers are willing to meet such a high price tag, especially considering Aiyuk’s age (26) and production compared to St. Brown (24). Aiyuk had 75 receptions for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns in 2022, while St. Brown recorded 119 receptions for 1,515 yards and 12 touchdowns.
The 49ers have a history of retaining their star players, including George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, and Nick Bosa. However, all three of those negotiations were accompanied by some level of drama. The Aiyuk situation could follow a similar path, with the team potentially making a difficult decision to let him go if his demands are not met.
Losing Aiyuk would be a significant blow to the 49ers’ Super Bowl hopes. He is the team’s only true high-end wide receiver, and his departure would leave a major void in the offense. While the 49ers could potentially trade for a replacement, it is unlikely that any player acquired in that manner would be able to match Aiyuk’s production immediately.
The 49ers are still in a win-now mode, and losing Aiyuk would significantly diminish their chances of making another Super Bowl run. The team’s window of contention is closing, and they need all of their key players to perform at a high level.
Ideally, the 49ers would sign Aiyuk to a long-term contract as soon as possible. However, the team has a history of taking a more conservative approach to contract negotiations. As a result, it is possible that Aiyuk could be traded or that both sides could engage in a prolonged stalemate. Either scenario would be detrimental to the 49ers’ Super Bowl aspirations.
