Every summer, it appears that the San Francisco 49ers must decide whether to extend one of their homegrown players. This season will be no different for wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
Aiyuk has proven that he is a No. 1 receiver in this league by having his greatest season as a pro. He needs one more touchdown and six receptions to tie his career high. We’ll see whether Kyle Shanahan enables Aiyuk to hit those stats before pulling him against the Rams in Week 18. However, Aiyuk has 300 more receiving yards than previous season and is averaging more than five yards per reception.
Aiyuk, who will be 26 in March, has set a goal for himself.
Over the Cap, another salary cap website, forecasts the 49ers to exceed the NFL’s $242 million salary cap for next season. Naturally, we’ll continue to hear about Aiyuk or one of the other elite players as a possible trade chip this offseason.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are one football team that makes a lot of sense. According to Bleacher Report, an Aiyuk swap with Trevor Lawrence would net the Niners at least a first-round selection and additional compensation.
The 49ers have Aiyuk under contract for next season after picking up his fifth-year option, which means Aiyuk is paid $14.1 million. The only way they could
San Francisco has exploited numerous wage ceiling loopholes to secure extensions and retain professionals in-house. The wide receiver class is quite strong in NFL Draft cycle, so the temptation is there, but with Aiyuk, you know what you’re getting and how he fits your culture.
To agree to a deal, the return must be substantial.
