It was expected that San Francisco 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk would miss OTAs last week due to a contract disagreement.
Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports that Aiyuk and the 49ers aren't near on a contract deal. That has raised concerns that the fourth-year wideout would want a trade if he doesn't get his deal. Aiyuk's representative says the receiver hasn't asked to leave San Francisco despite unfollowing the team on social media.
However, Aiyuk and his representatives may have found the amount in a recent NFL receiver contract. The Detroit Lions signed Amon-Ra St. Brown to a four-year, $120 million agreement with $77 million guaranteed before the NFL Draft. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler says that set Aiyuk's goal.
[Aiyuk] doesn't need to be the highest paid in the league," Fowler said on "NFL Live." "But he's done enough and accomplished enough in that offense where he's probably going to need to be at that number or higher."
While that provides a starting point, the 49ers may struggle to negotiate due to Aiyuk's statistical advantage over St. Brown. St. Brown caught 119 passes on 164 targets last season for 1,515 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 75 first downs. Aiyuk caught 75 catches for 1,342 yards, seven touchdowns, and 61 first downs on 105 targets.
However, Aiyuk can attribute his 59 fewer targets to an offense that includes George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, and Christian McCaffrey. Though less prominent than St. Brown, he led the 49ers in catches and yards.
Spotrac reports that Aiyuk's fifth-year option for 2024-25 will pay $14.1 million. This is much below St. Brown's $30 million average annual pay from his new contract. St. Brown was two years from free agency and will earn $4.9 million in 2024-25 from his rookie contract.
With his $96 million agreement with the Philadelphia Eagles, A.J. Brown earns $32 million annually, the most among receivers. Over the Cap ranks St. Brown and Tyreek Hill behind him. Does Aiyuk want his pay there? Do the 49ers think he's as important to their offensive as those other three, especially with quarterback Brock Purdy to pay? The squad may be $23.9 million over the cap in 2025.