Brandon Aiyuk of the 49ers received a stern message from John Lynch at the podium during Tuesday’s NFL draft combine in Indianapolis: We want you to stay put. It should go without saying, but it’s unclear if Lynch and the 49ers can actually make that happen given the limitations on their salary structure.
It’s also unclear if Aiyuk intends to remain in San Francisco at all.
Let’s begin with Lynch’s remarks made during the combine, wherein he recognized the 49ers’ “difficulties” while simultaneously emphasizing the team’s track record of signing players.
“We have some challenges,” Lynch said, per Pro Football Talk. “We have a lot of good players, a lot of good players who we’ve rewarded. Brandon’s one that we think incredibly highly of, one of my favorite guys around our building, the way he approaches the game. He’s a competitor. He’s a warrior. He plays with such physicality, also with grace, in the way some of the positions his body can get into.
“And then he’s got a flair for making plays when [they] matter most, and he’s served us very well as a franchise. And I think we’ve got a nice track record of extending the players that are important to us, and Brandon’s the guy we want to keep around for a long time.”
Brandon Aiyuk of the 49ers had a breakout year.
Lynch has many reasons to want Aiyuk to move to San Francisco. With just 75 catches, Aiyuk amassed 1,342 yards last season, ranking second in the NFL in yards per catch (17.9). Throughout the season, he and quarterback Brock Purdy appeared to have a great rapport, especially with Deebo Samuel, the team’s other top receiver, sidelined for two games and partial sessions of others.
Aiyuk won’t come cheap, though. It will be challenging for San Francisco to find enough space to retain Aiyuk, who turns 26 next month and is currently ranked among the NFL’s Top 5-10 receivers, even with the $30 million increase in the salary cap.
In theory, Aiyuk is obligated to pay $14 million for his fifth-year option next season. There’s a good chance the 49ers will try to sign him again at that price the following season, but he almost certainly will demand a new contract. Aiyuk is projected by Spotrac to command a contract worth $23 million annually, and they anticipate that he will be worthy of a four-year, $92 million extension.
With a chance to make it back to the Super Bowl, the 49ers could arrange things so that they can fit Aiyuk in this year. However, with their payroll skyrocketing, they will undoubtedly need to make changes the following season.
Are You Trying to Get Out of San Francisco?
There’s also the perplexing question of whether Aiyuk wishes to return. On a team that featured standout receivers Deebo Samuel and George Kittle in addition to versatile running back Christian McCaffrey, Aiyuk was the top receiver. A game can only have so many plays, and it seemed like Aiyuk wasn’t happy with how much of him they were using.
Aiyuk’s close friend Draysean Hudson said, “This is the exact reason why we leaving San Francisco,” after pointing out earlier this month that Aiyuk had only three catches in the Super Bowl.
Of course, that sounded a little harsh. That was, however, his third straight postseason game with just three catches.
Aiyuk did not try to dismiss those posts when they were brought up, stating that he would only stay with the 49ers if it was “the right move.” In addition, he appeared troubled by his lack of postseason catches on social media when he shared the message, “Remember what brought you here.”
The 49ers are in a difficult situation, which is made even more challenging by Aiyuk’s social media posts following the Super Bowl. However, Lynch remains optimistic that he will return.