Brandon Aiyuk is a Quitter! Pick #25, 2020 NFL Draft | Page 1722

Rubberneck36 · 2020-04-23T20:15:30-07:00

Wow #ArizonaState WR Brandon Aiyuk to the #49ers....Play-action & RPO in Shanahan's offense. Slants, glance routes. Get north in a hurry after the catch. YAC. pic.twitter.com/IxBJaeJHb3— Matt Bowen (@MattBowen41) April 24, 2020https://twitter.com/SidelineCFB/status/1253523374724255744#49ers move up from 31 to 25 and draft WR Brandon Aiyuk pic.twitter.com/giw2ZzHZxk— The Brawl Network ™? (@NetworkBrawl) April 24, 2020Brandon Aiyuk fills a need for the #Eagles in being their downfield playmaker. Ball tracking here is incredible. pic.twitter.com/N4rKWQMubi— / (@jackphilly1053) April 22, 2020

Jul 28, 2026 at 6:02 PM

#25816

Since07
Veteran
Posts: 5,179

Originally posted by SmokeyJoe:

Originally posted by Since07:
I don't like this "Kyle was demanding to keep him" perspective. Aiyuk simply blocked the trades and was willing to sign the deal that was on the table. That being said I think it's more than likely Aiyuk was Kyle's guy when we drafted him

The 49ers pulled the offer. They don't just let a contract offer sit necessarily. They offered a contract, he rejected it, they pulled it and went to work to trade him. Aiyuk eventually went directly to Kyle and an offer was put back on the table for him to sign. The 49ers leaked within hours of the news of the agreement that it was the same deal they had offered 3 weeks earlier, and that his hold-in was ineffective. Aiyuk's agent disputed the leak directly.

I don't understand this, by all reports Aiyuk was willing to sign at the last second when he was about to be traded and Kyle ran to tell Lynch. Could have he talked to Kyle directly about the situation sure, but Kyle isn't going to be the one negotiating his contract with him personally and throw a wrench into the trade talks.

Jul 28, 2026 at 6:12 PM

#25817

SmokeyJoe
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Posts: 13,599

Originally posted by Since07:
I don't understand this, by all reports Aiyuk was willing to sign at the last second when he was about to be traded and Kyle ran to tell Lynch. Could have he talked to Kyle directly about the situation sure, but Kyle isn't going to be the one negotiating his contract with him personally and throw a wrench into the trade talks.

https://www.si.com/nfl/takeaways-brandon-aiyuk-49ers-negotiations

That's factually inaccurate but the check still cashes. 😉 https://t.co/J7ZEeekbil
— Ryan Williams (@RyanWilliamsA1) August 29, 2024

To the bolded - Kyle stepping in on negotiations was viewed as a problem and Aiyuk's negotiation culminated in internal shifts in 'philosophy':

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6182308/2025/03/07/49ers-jed-york-organization-reset/

Jul 28, 2026 at 6:24 PM

#25818

Since07
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Posts: 5,179

Again can't read the link you've provided. So Kyle told Lynch Aiyuk was willing to sign the deal that had been on the table for a month and that's his fault

Jul 28, 2026 at 6:31 PM

#25819

SmokeyJoe
Veteran
Posts: 13,599

Originally posted by Since07:
Again can't read the link you've provided. So Kyle told Lynch Aiyuk was willing to sign the deal that had been on the table for a month and that's his fault .

Assuming you're referencing the NY Times article. If you're on an iphone you can bypass the paywall by clicking the 'show reader' option. If that's not the case I can PM you the text of the article.

To me, it seems you don't want to believe this because you use the word 'fault' when presented with Kyle's actions here. I don't look at this as Kyle's fault. This was an internal disagreement about what to do with a player and Kyle got his way initially.

[ Edited by SmokeyJoe on Jul 28, 2026 at 6:36 PM ]

Jul 28, 2026 at 6:41 PM

#25820

Since07
Veteran
Posts: 5,179

Originally posted by SmokeyJoe:

Originally posted by Since07:
Again can't read the link you've provided. So Kyle told Lynch Aiyuk was willing to sign the deal that had been on the table for a month and that's his fault .

Assuming you're referencing the NY Times article. If you're on an iphone you can bypass the paywall by clicking the 'show reader' option. If that's not the case I can PM you the text of the article.

To me, it seems you don't want to believe this because you use the word 'fault' when presented with Kyle's actions here. I don't look at this as Kyle's fault. This was an internal disagreement about what to do with a player and Kyle got his way initially.

Aiyuk blocked trades to the Browns, Patriots, and Steelers who all were willing to pay him more $. This wasn't Kyle "demanding not to trade him" because they had attempted several deals in place but Aiyuk kept saying no. It was when he agreed to the contract written up by Paarag and signed off by Lynch that Kyle interfered.

Jul 28, 2026 at 6:41 PM

#25821

brodiebluebanaszak
Veteran
Posts: 15,379

didn't think Aiyuks comments were antagonistic. Just cryptic which equals profound and depthy for gen A. whatever

Jul 28, 2026 at 7:01 PM

#25822

49AllTheTime
Veteran
Posts: 72,507

Originally posted by Since07:

Originally posted by SmokeyJoe:

Originally posted by Since07:
Again can't read the link you've provided. So Kyle told Lynch Aiyuk was willing to sign the deal that had been on the table for a month and that's his fault .

Assuming you're referencing the NY Times article. If you're on an iphone you can bypass the paywall by clicking the 'show reader' option. If that's not the case I can PM you the text of the article.

To me, it seems you don't want to believe this because you use the word 'fault' when presented with Kyle's actions here. I don't look at this as Kyle's fault. This was an internal disagreement about what to do with a player and Kyle got his way initially.

Aiyuk blocked trades to the Browns, Patriots, and Steelers who all were willing to pay him more $. This wasn't Kyle "demanding not to trade him" because they had attempted several deals in place but Aiyuk kept saying no. It was when he agreed to the contract written up by Paarag and signed off by Lynch that Kyle interfered.

Exactly, smoke is adding that part you bolded which never happened

Jul 28, 2026 at 7:02 PM

#25823

SmokeyJoe
Veteran
Posts: 13,599

Originally posted by Since07:
Aiyuk blocked trades to the Browns, Patriots, and Steelers who all were willing to pay him more $. This wasn't Kyle "demanding not to trade him" because they had attempted several deals in place but Aiyuk kept saying no. It was when he agreed to the contract written up by Paarag and signed off by Lynch that Kyle interfered.

Brother, they pulled their offer.

Let's just move on. This is like the 30th time this conversation has been had.

Jul 28, 2026 at 7:09 PM

#25824

49AllTheTime
Veteran
Posts: 72,507

Originally posted by SmokeyJoe:

Originally posted by Since07:
Aiyuk blocked trades to the Browns, Patriots, and Steelers who all were willing to pay him more $. This wasn't Kyle "demanding not to trade him" because they had attempted several deals in place but Aiyuk kept saying no. It was when he agreed to the contract written up by Paarag and signed off by Lynch that Kyle interfered.

Brother, they pulled their offer.

Let's just move on. This is like the 30th time this conversation has been had.

What are the differences from the so called pulled offer to the one he agreed to ?

Jul 28, 2026 at 7:13 PM

#25825

49ers808
Veteran
Posts: 16,531

Originally posted by 49ersRing:

Originally posted by 49ers808:

Originally posted by 49ersRing:
Yea, it's weird that he has any animosity towards Kyle or John at all. It isn't like those two had any say in the decision to take away his guarantees for missing rehab check-ins.

Yea; or any say in drafting him in the first round to change his life and then giving him the contract to set up his kids and grandkids lives forever. Not weird at all

Well, they obviously had a say in drafting him and Kyle definitely wanted to resign him, but the money stuff isn't their department.

I read your post wrong and thought you were being sarcastic and defending Aiyuk shot at Kyle. Sorry.

But I guarantee you that Kyle/Lynch does have a say in the money stuff. The decision was collectively made (including Kyle/Lynch) to take away his money for missing rehab; zero chance it was just Paraag who decided to do that because of the ramifications that comes with it.

Jul 28, 2026 at 7:19 PM

#25826

SmokeyJoe
Veteran
Posts: 13,599

Originally posted by 49ers808:
I read your post wrong and thought you were being sarcastic and defending Aiyuk shot at Kyle. Sorry.

But I guarantee you that Kyle/Lynch does have a say in the money stuff. The decision was collectively made (including Kyle/Lynch) to take away his money for missing rehab; zero chance it was just Paraag who decided to do that because of the ramifications that comes with it.

Kyle did say publicly he wasn't involved and that the business and legal side of the front office was handling the issue.

It's not hard to see Kyle being on board with getting out of the deal from a purely football perspective either. Aiyuk underproduced and then suffered a serious injury. It became a bad deal quick, not even factoring Aiyuk's maturity issues.

Jul 28, 2026 at 7:21 PM

#25827

SmokeyJoe
Veteran
Posts: 13,599

Originally posted by 49AllTheTime:
What are the differences from the so called pulled offer to the one he agreed to ?

I'm not sure… they've never been reported…but you can clearly see Aiyuk's agent disputing the report that the offer was the same. You can also see Breer described the contract he signed as not all that different from the one offered three weeks earlier.

If I had to guess, I'd assume the differences were in the guarantees - the most important part of any contract.

Jul 28, 2026 at 7:27 PM

#25828

49ers808
Veteran
Posts: 16,531

Originally posted by SmokeyJoe:

Originally posted by 49ers808:
I read your post wrong and thought you were being sarcastic and defending Aiyuk shot at Kyle. Sorry.

But I guarantee you that Kyle/Lynch does have a say in the money stuff. The decision was collectively made (including Kyle/Lynch) to take away his money for missing rehab; zero chance it was just Paraag who decided to do that because of the ramifications that comes with it.

Kyle did say publicly he wasn't involved and that the business and legal side of the front office was handling the issue.

It's not hard to see Kyle being on board with getting out of the deal from a purely football perspective either. Aiyuk underproduced and then suffered a serious injury. It became a bad deal quick, not even factoring Aiyuk's maturity issues.

Having a say in the money stuff includes whether or not to even give said player money. It isn't Paraag who decides who should get a contract. Lynch talks about it all the time about how there's a cap (money) and how they are constantly and collectively making decisions for the present and future. The details of that contract or money; yes, that's Paraag.

Jul 28, 2026 at 7:51 PM

#25829

Since07
Veteran
Posts: 5,179

Originally posted by SmokeyJoe:

Originally posted by Since07:
Aiyuk blocked trades to the Browns, Patriots, and Steelers who all were willing to pay him more $. This wasn't Kyle "demanding not to trade him" because they had attempted several deals in place but Aiyuk kept saying no. It was when he agreed to the contract written up by Paarag and signed off by Lynch that Kyle interfered.

Brother, they pulled their offer.

Let's just move on. This is like the 30th time this conversation has been had.

Was that their words? I genuinely don't know. Teams were willing to give draft capital and pay him "a lot more" than us. A "pulled offer" can just mean we won't compete with the several offers he had on the table. That HE kept turning down.

Jul 28, 2026 at 7:54 PM

#25830

SmokeyJoe
Veteran
Posts: 13,599

Originally posted by 49ers808:
Having a say in the money stuff includes whether or not to even give said player money. It isn't Paraag who decides who should get a contract. Lynch talks about it all the time about how there's a cap (money) and how they are constantly and collectively making decisions for the present and future. The details of that contract or money; yes, that's Paraag.

Correct, and Kyle had his way in this context through Aiyuk's deal. Following Aiyuk's deal there was a philosophical shift, reportedly.

It's an undeniable reality that the person who controls the checkbook has a large part in shaping the roster. That's what makes the 49ers structure unusual… that person doesn't work under the GM and report to the GM. They report to the owner. It is a parallel position to the GM in our structure.