2024-08-30 22:35:02
Aiyuk has long sought an extension and then requested a trade in July. Trade speculation initially ramped up during the 2024 NFL Draft and it surrounded Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel. The 49ers drafted wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, but no trade materialized and Lynch looked to snuff out any further speculation. That all changed with stalled negotiations and at one point it seemed that Aiyuk was more likely to be moving on from The Bay.
Instead, he’s staying put and head coach Kyle Shanahan is no doubt happier with his star receiver back in the fold.
Aiyuk is an elite wideout in his prime, as he’s coming off a season in which he posted a career-high 1,342 receiving yards to go with 75 receptions and seven touchdowns. It was his second straight 1,000-yard campaign, and even though he was perceived as struggling in his first two seasons, Aiyuk has had at least 55 catches, 745 yards and five TDs in each of his four years.
Training camp contract drama is nothing new for the 49ers, who have dealt with it in three consecutive years following Samuel requesting a trade in 2022 and Nick Bosa holding out in 2023. Both of those were resolved with each getting extensions and remaining crucial cogs on the perennial Super Bowl contenders — just like Aiyuk now. The histrionics haven’t concluded, though, as offensive tackle Trent Williams remains a holdout.
However, the Aiyuk stalemate is done. He’s no longer sitting at the dock of The Bay waiting to get paid, he’s got his new deal.
