The San Francisco 49ers and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk are currently facing a contract standoff, which has led Aiyuk to make a striking statement. In a TikTok video, Aiyuk shared a FaceTime conversation with Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, where he claimed that the 49ers “don’t want me back.”
This bold assertion has stirred speculation about Aiyuk’s future with the team, given their ongoing contractual negotiations.
Aiyuk, who previously played alongside Daniels at Arizona State before entering the NFL in 2020, currently has a contract worth $14.1 million for the 2024 season under his fifth-year option.
However, Aiyuk is seeking a significant pay raise, reportedly aiming for $30 million or more per year. His comment about the 49ers not wanting him could indicate that the team is unwilling to meet his salary demands, or it might suggest they are not planning to retain him beyond this season.
While the 49ers are likely willing to keep Aiyuk for the 2024 season at his current salary, the larger issue is his long-term future with the team. Trading Aiyuk might be a viable option if the team does not want to commit to his financial expectations.
The ideal timing for such a trade would have been before the 2024 NFL Draft, which would have allowed the 49ers to acquire draft picks for the current year. Now, any potential trade would involve either future draft picks or players in exchange.
The situation highlights the complex dynamics of NFL contracts and the strategic decisions teams must make regarding player retention and compensation.
For Aiyuk, the next steps could involve either staying with the 49ers under his current contract or finding a new team willing to meet his financial requirements through a trade. The resolution of this impasse will significantly impact both Aiyuk’s career and the 49ers’ roster planning.