Brandon Aiyuk’s lengthy contract dispute with San Francisco got here to an finish Thursday when the star receiver agreed on a four-year, $120m contract extension to stick with the 49ers.
Two folks acquainted with the deal says the perimeters got here to the settlement Thursday after Aiyuk missed his second straight apply regardless of being cleared by crew docs to take part. They spoke to the Related Press on situation of anonymity as a result of the deal hadn’t been introduced.
Aiyuk will get $76m in ensures, based on one of many folks.
NFL Community first reported the settlement.
Aiyuk had refused to apply all offseason as a part of a contract “maintain in” with the crew, saying he had a again harm. Coach Kyle Shanahan and common supervisor John Lynch mentioned he was cleared by docs earlier than Wednesday’s apply however Aiyuk nonetheless didn’t be a part of, risking attainable fines.
Aiyuk had requested a commerce earlier in the summertime however no crew that Aiyuk needed to go to was keen to present the Niners what they needed and pay Aiyuk the wage he sought.
However that was all settled when Aiyuk and the 49ers got here to an settlement 11 days earlier than the season opener towards the New York Jets on 9 September.
That leaves San Francisco with one remaining outstanding maintain out with All-Professional left deal with Trent Williams nonetheless staying away from the crew as he seeks a brand new deal.
Aiyuk had been set to play on the fifth-year possibility price about $14.1m this season however now turns into the most recent receiver to money in with a long-term deal.
Eleven receivers earlier than Aiyuk had signed contracts price at the least $70m already this offseason, with Justin Jefferson’s four-year, $140m extension with Minnesota setting the highest of the market. Aiyuk is the sixth receiver with a median annual contract of at the least $30m.
Aiyuk had been a key a part of San Francisco’s offense final season as he shaped an amazing reference to quarterback Brock Purdy. Aiyuk had 75 catches and a career-high 1,375 yards final season with seven touchdowns as he earned second-team All-Professional honors.
He put up these numbers on an offense that handed on the second-lowest price within the NFL final season and had a number of different star playmakers similar to Deebo Samuel, George Kittle and All-Professional operating again Christian McCaffrey.
Aiyuk’s 12.8 common yards receiving per goal had been the very best mark for any participant with at the least 75 targets in a season since Jordy Nelson averaged 13.2 for Inexperienced Bay in 2011.
Purdy’s 120.5 passer ranking when concentrating on Aiyuk ranks one of the best of any QB-pass catcher mixture with at the least 125 makes an attempt over the previous two seasons, based on Sportradar.
Aiyuk has 269 catches for 3,931 yards and 25 TDs in 4 seasons since being drafted twenty fifth total in 2020 however has taken off since Purdy turned quarterback, with eight of his 11 100-yard receiving video games in his profession coming with Purdy as starter.
The Niners have executed a very good job rewarding their homegrown stars, handing out megadeals to Kittle, Fred Warner, Samuel, Nick Bosa and now Aiyuk since 2020.
However the previous two proved notably robust with Bosa not signing his deal till a number of days earlier than the opener final season.
The 36-year-old Williams is owed $20.05m this season underneath the six-year, $138.1m deal he signed in 2021.
Williams’ common annual worth of simply over $23m has been surpassed by 5 offensive linemen since he turned the richest participant on the place when he signed the deal. Tristan Wirfs, Penei Sewell and Christian Darrisaw all obtained offers this offseason price at the least $26m a yr.
“Everybody is aware of Trent is a captain, a Corridor of Famer, the massive canine of the crew,” cornerback Charvarius Ward mentioned. “Rattling close to all people is afraid of him. We miss him just a little bit, however like I mentioned, anyone has to step as much as be a captain to exchange what’s lacking with these guys not right here.”
