San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is in high spirits, and it's no wonder why. He's well aware that his bank account is about to get a significant boost, one way or another.
Aiyuk posted a video to Instagram, showing himself dancing and seemingly celebrating the good fortune of one of his NFL peers. The Detroit Lions recently inked their star wideout, Amon-Ra St. Brown, to a lucrative four-year, $120 million contract extension. Aiyuk eagerly awaits his own deal from the 49ers and recognizes that the news out of Detroit will only strengthen his agent, Ryan Williams' hand at the negotiating table.
Brandon Aiyuk's IG story.
Oh my oh my. That's a man who knows he's getting paid. Perhaps by the Steelers pic.twitter.com/hpSZnBhdaX
— Jarrett Bailey (@JBaileyNFL) April 24, 2024
This week, Michael Silver of the San Francisco Chronicle reported that Aiyuk's camp seeks an annual salary well above $25 million for the fifth-year receiver. However, Silver notes that the 49ers have been reluctant to meet that price. St. Brown's new contract could be perceived as leverage in Aiyuk's favor.
On Monday, general manager John Lynch assured reporters that the 49ers are actively engaged in negotiations for Aiyuk's new deal, stating, "I've communicated on a couple of occasions, on many occasions, our wish. And our wish is that he's here and a part of the Niners for the rest of his career. We're working through that."
Aiyuk is coming off a standout season, tallying a team-leading 1,342 receiving yards and seven touchdowns on 75 receptions during the 2023 campaign, per Pro Football Reference.
Much speculation has surrounded the situation between the 49ers and Aiyuk, with many wondering if the team might consider trading the receiver before or during the upcoming draft, which kicks off tomorrow night, rather than paying him top-tier money.
When asked about the possibility of Aiyuk not being on the 49ers roster come Friday morning, Lynch responded, "I wouldn't anticipate that."
Aiyuk, 26, has accumulated 269 receptions for 3,931 yards and 25 touchdowns in 62 game appearances (60 starts) over his four NFL seasons.
