Earlier this week at the NFL owners meetings, San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch informed reporters that the team is actively negotiating a contract extension with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk's representatives. He emphasized that the 49ers are not entertaining trade discussions, underscoring their priority of retaining Aiyuk.
"There's a number of different directions that it could go, but we appreciate the heck out of Brandon and who he is as a player," Lynch said. "We want him to be a part of the Niners, so we're going to work towards making that a reality."
Lynch mentioned that the 49ers are open to Aiyuk playing on his fifth-year option, which guarantees the receiver $14.124 million in 2024.
"We're talking with his guys, trying to talk about some parameters of some things," Lynch added. "I'm not going to get into [the details]. I never do. But we're having discussions, and that's a good thing."
Aiyuk's response was a not-so-subtle message on social media, stating that money talks. Furthermore, during an appearance on "The Nightcap" podcast with former NFL players Shannon Sharpe and Chad Ochocinco, Aiyuk elaborated on his stance.
"I'm trying to get what I deserve," Aiyuk told former NFL players Shannon Sharpe and Chad Ochocinco during an appearance on "The Nightcap" podcast, per Pro Football Talk. "I feel like this season, this season playing football, I figured out who I was as a person and a player — what I bring to the table, what I bring to the locker room, what I bring to the organization. The value I hold when I walk in that building. People gonna follow me because I've done it the right way since I've been in that building. From the first day I walked in there to when I was in there earlier this morning.
"If they don't see the worth in that, that's all it is. It ain't nothing else besides that. I can't get into it. We got professionals working on both sides, so hopefully, we can come to a professional agreement to continue playing professional football."
Aiyuk led the team with 1,342 receiving yards this past season, marking his second consecutive season surpassing 1,000 receiving yards. His seven receiving touchdowns tied with Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel for the most among 49ers players last season.