Kaepernick wanted contract that would allow Crabtree extension
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick was thinking about his fellow players during negotiations of his new contract.
He wanted to make sure that his deal allowed the team some flexibility to still offer extensions to other players like wide receiver Michael Crabtree.
Kaepernick and the 49ers agreed to a 6-year, $126 million deal this afternoon. The deal includes $61 million in guaranteed money.
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Mike Silver on how Deebo Samuel's contract might be the starting point for a Brandon Aiyuk extension
With the 2024 NFL Draft less than a week away, it's common for the rumor mill to start churning, especially with players who are actively seeking a new contract. It was just two short years ago that WR Deebo Samuel requested a trade from the San Francisco 49ers prior to draft day, only for cooler heads to prevail and eventually agree to a new deal.
Now, it's WR Brandon Aiyuk's turn to try and get paid and rumors surfaced over the weekend that he too would request to be dealt. While that report was quickly shot down by his agent, there's still a lot of discussion about Aiyuk's future and if other teams will come calling on draft night.
Legendary columnist Mike Silver joined
49ers analysis: The pros and cons of a Brandon Aiyuk extension
John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan have made it clear that they want WR Brandon Aiyuk to be a part of the San Francisco 49ers for the foreseeable future. It appears Aiyuk also wants to get something done, but all indications are that he isn't willing to take a hometown discount and the likelihood of playing on the last year of his deal without a holdout or trade request is slim.
Simply put: Aiyuk wants to get paid.
It's hard to blame him. A player's time in the NFL can be short and it takes just one hit to end a career. So, whether it's with the Niners or another team, Aiyuk will squeeze every penny out of what will most likely be his most lucrative professional contract. But is spending that much on a receiver a wise move for the franchise?
There are a
49ers insider: I would be surprised if Brandon Aiyuk isn't signed to a new deal
As expected, the most significant storyline surrounding the San Francisco 49ers this offseason revolves around the contract negotiations with star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. There hasn't been much official chatter on that front aside from general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan assuring reporters that every effort is being made to retain Aiyuk.
That hasn't stopped the rampant speculation from the media, with reports of interest from teams like the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers, as well as former teammate
Brandon Aiyuk unfollows 49ers on Instagram amid contract negotiations
Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has unfollowed the San Francisco 49ers on Instagram. Is it time for the fanbase to panic? Probably not. NFL players have made similar moves in comparable contract negotiation situations, such as Deebo Samuel's actions in 2022. However, in Samuel's case, the offseason drama escalated to the point that he requested a trade.
So far, no such request has been made by Aiyuk or his representatives—that we know of.
While Aiyuk has unfollowed the 49ers on Instagram (h/t Jose Sanchez of SI), he continues to follow the team on X (formerly
