Why the 49ers have Leverage Over George Kittle in Contract Negotiations

During the NFL owners' meetings, San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York noted the significant rise in quarterback salaries in recent years. However, he acknowledged the market value of such players, recognizing that he'll have to sign a substantial check for his young quarterback, Brock Purdy, next year. York stated, "And to me, the quarterback is the most important position, not just in football, but in all sports, and those guys should be paid a lot." Last week, Brock Purdy addressed York's comments, showing no concern about the financial implications that will arise next year. Instead, he

Brock Purdy set a San Francisco 49ers single-season record in 2023, throwing for 4,280 passing yards. Many of those yards came on passes to his top target, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who amassed a team-leading and career-high 1,342 receiving yards. Purdy and Aiyuk have developed great chemistry on the football field, and the quarterback would like to build upon that for years to come. However, that is out of his control, and Aiyuk's future is in the hands of the front office. RELATED: John Lynch sends clear message regarding Brandon Aiyuk's future Purdy trusts the process, acknowledging that the 49ers' decision-makers have done a commendable job

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

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy achieved a remarkable feat in 2023, setting a single-season franchise record with 4,280 passing yards. This accomplishment is noteworthy, considering the illustrious quarterbacks who have graced the organization's history. A significant portion of those yards came from wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who amassed a career-high and team-leading 1,342 receiving yards. Most of his 75 catches originated from passes thrown by Purdy. Amidst significant offseason chatter surrounding the 49ers' star receiver, including several unsubstantiated trade rumors, Aiyuk's future remains uncertain. Former NFL player James Jones, now an analyst, expressed concern for Purdy should Aiyuk's tenure in the Bay Area come to an end. "I