Brandon Aiyuk had his best NFL season in 2022, surpassing 1,000 receiving yards for the first time while hauling in a career-high eight touchdowns. The San Francisco 49ers wide receiver isn't satisfied, though. Last season's effort wasn't enough for the hungry fourth-year player.
Aiyuk joined Richard Sherman on the former 49ers cornerback's podcast and was asked about his expectations heading into the 2023 season. Aiyuk has yet to earn Pro Bowl or All-Pro honors. Is that the goal for the 25-year-old?
"That's my expectation. Of course, that's my expectation," Aiyuk told Sherman. "But really, it's just maximizing. I'm still thinking about some plays I left out there last season. Like you said, I had my first thousand-yard season, but I left a bunch of plays out there, so I'm just trying to maximize.
"If I can maximize every play that I get, that's the goal for me, and we'll see where that takes me. But I feel like I left at least three or four more touchdowns out there, two or three hundred more yards out there."
Aiyuk was the 49ers' leading receiver last season. An impressive encore could end up being lucrative for the young player. While pass rusher Nick Bosa's contract extension has been one of the top storylines this offseason, all eyes will be on Aiyuk's contract status next year.
"Maximizing" will go a long way in earning a massive pay increase. Aiyuk's efforts could also help the 49ers finally reach their team goal—finally being the last team standing at the end of the season.
"I feel like if I were to get the exact same stuff as what I got last year in this year, I can maximize that into what you're talking about," Aiyuk continued, "into these things that I want to do and what I see myself as. So that's just the main goal, just maximizing every opportunity and winning the championship."
Comments