After Brandon Aiyuk Signs $120 Million Extension With 49ers, Will He Be Ready For The Regular Season?

On Thursday, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk signed a four-year, $120 million contract extension after a protracted battle with team management. 

Aiyuk did not attend practice Wednesday despite receiving medical clearance. With the regular season looming, Aiyuk was still holding out for a contract extension.

In an internal team PR interview Wednesday, head coach Kyle Shanahan said that he hoped that Aiyuk would be available to practice. He also said that he did not know if the wide receiver would be ready to go Week 1, even if he did rejoin the team this week.

“I don’t know. I haven’t heard anything,” Shanahan said when asked about Aiyuk’s availability. “I’ve been working on the 53, the practice squad. I haven’t talked to him. I know he’s been cleared by our doctors. So, I hope that he is out there practicing today.”

Reporters waited for some sign of Aiyuk after the team’s optimistic report, but the 26-year-old did not attend, continuing his holdout. At one point earlier this summer, he was reportedly seeking a new deal on par with Lions star Amon-Ra St. Brown, who inked a four-year, $120 million deal in April.

With salary cap issues on the horizon, the 49ers were very hesitant to offer Aiyuk a similar deal. With Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle and Deebo Samuel all providing plenty of firepower on offense, there have also been questions as to Aiyuk’s true value on an elite roster. 

It seemed like the fifth-year receiver would be traded for a time, with New England, Cleveland and Pittsburgh all rumored to have made offers. These deals failed as well, however, stranding Aiyuk on the team.  

It is hard to imagine a scenario in which both sides can return to normal operations quickly. There will be the issue of preparedness, as Aiyuk has missed the entire preseason and may have trouble adjusting to football in the regular season.

Getting ready for action will be one thing, but emotions and hard feelings may also play a role. The 49ers are currently favored to return to the Super Bowl, and despite their vast arsenal on offense, Aiyuk has been a key contributor to the team’s success. He will now have to contribute to the team’s future.

Article by Patrick Moquin