George Kittle. Fred Warner. Deebo Samuel. Nick Bosa. All had contentious offseasons before the final year of their respective rookie contracts trying to get handsome extensions from the 49ers organization. All of them went down to the wire but they all had happy endings.
Brandon Aiyuk became the latest iteration in the hit drama, as he was in the final year of his rookie contract, and looking for a big payday.
In this calendar year alone, Justin Jefferson extended for four years and $140 million, Amon-Ra St. Brown for four years and $120 million, D.J. Moore for four years and $110 million and CeeDee Lamb just recently received a four-year, $136 million extension.
Two years ago, Aiyuk caught 78 of 114 targets for 1,015 yards and eight touchdowns. Last season, he hauled in 75 of 105 targets for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns. The raw numbers may pale in comparison to some of the other top receivers in the game, but the 49ers have a plethora of weapons and are one of the more balanced teams in the league.
That said, Aiyuk IS one of the best wide receivers in the game, as he does things that no one else on the roster can do, which is beat press man coverage on the outside.
As the summer dragged on, the trade rumors became ocean currents, bringing in fresh updates on a daily basis, but eventually recycling the same thing over and over. There were videos of Aiyuk dapping players and coaches at practice. The debates on Twitter became fierce.
Finally, though, on August 29th, 11 days before their opener against the New York Jets, the 49ers and Aiyuk agreed to a four-year, $120 million extension, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The 49ers made the Conference Championship in each of the last three seasons, advancing to the Super Bowl last year and losing. They are in win-now mode, loaded on both sides of the ball and running with quarterback Brock Purdy, who has certainly proven himself and is still on his four-year, $3.7 million rookie contract.
The window is now open to go for it before Purdy seeks his own big payday.
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