Brandon Aiyuk’s protracted contract dispute with the 49ers ended Thursday, when the standout receiver agreed to a four-year contract to continue with the team.
According to a person familiar with the situation, the sides reached an arrangement Thursday when Aiyuk missed his second consecutive practice despite being cleared by team physicians to play. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal had not yet been publicized.
The arrangement, first reported by NFL Network, will pay Aiyuk $120 million over four years, with $76 million guaranteed.
Aiyuk refused to workout all offseason as part of a contract “hold in” with the organization, citing a back problem. Coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch claimed he was cleared by physicians before Wednesday’s practice, but Aiyuk did not participate, risking sanctions.
Aiyuk had requested a trade earlier this summer, but no team was willing to give the Niners what they wanted while still paying Aiyuk the money he desired.
But that was all resolved when Aiyuk and the 49ers reached an agreement 11 days before the season’s opening against the New York Jets on September 9.
San Francisco still has one significant holdout, All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams, who is seeking a new contract.
Aiyuk was set to play on a fifth-year option worth approximately $14.1 million this season, but he has suddenly become the latest receiver to sign a long-term contract.
Prior to Aiyuk, eleven receivers had signed contracts worth at least $70 million this offseason, with Justin Jefferson’s four-year, $140 million pact with Minnesota setting the market. Aiyuk is the sixth receiver with an annual contract worth at least $30 million.
Aiyuk was a vital member of San Francisco’s offence last season, forming a strong bond with quarterback Brock Purdy. Last season, Aiyuk recorded 75 catches for a career-high 1,375 yards and seven touchdowns, earning second-team All-Pro recognition.
He put up those stats on an offence that passed at the second-lowest rate in the NFL last season and included multiple other standout players, including Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and All-Pro running back Christian McCaffery.
Aiyuk’s average yards receiving per target of 12.8 was the most for any receiver with at least 75 targets in a season since Green Bay’s Jordy Nelson averaged 13.2 in 2011.
Purdy’s 120.5 passer rating when targeting Aiyuk is the highest of any quarterback-pass catcher combo with at least 125 attempts over the last two seasons, according to Sportradar.
Aiyuk has 269 catches for 3,931 yards and 25 touchdowns in four seasons since being drafted 25th overall in 2020, but his production has skyrocketed since Purdy took over as quarterback, with eight of his 11 100-yard receiving games coming with Purdy as starter.
Williams, 36, is owed $20.05 million this season on the six-year, $138.1 million contract he signed in 2021.
Five offensive lineman have eclipsed Williams’ average annual worth of little more than $23 million since he signed the contract, making him the richest player at the position. This summer, Tristan Wirfs, Penei Sewell, and Christian Darrisaw all signed deals worth at least $26 million per year.
“Everyone knows Trent is a captain, a Hall of Famer, the big dog of the team,” cornerback Charvarius Ward stated. “Almost everybody is terrified of him. We miss him a little, but as I previously stated, someone must step forward to be a captain to fill the void left by those who are no longer present.
NOTES: S. Talanoa Hufanga participated in individual drills while recovering from an ACL injury sustained in November. He is anticipated to play again in September. The 49ers added two players to their practice squad, adding WR Terrace Marshall Jr. after Carolina cut the 2021 second-round pick, and re-signing RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn, who was cut by San Francisco on Tuesday. With Christian McCaffrey (calf) and Isaac Guerendo (groin) out due to injuries, the Niners needed additional running backs. Other 49ers players who did not participate in open practice included DL Yetur Gross-Matos (knee), WR Jauan Jennings (oblique), LB Dee Winters, and G Aaron Banks (pinky).
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