The contract extension standoff between Brandon Aiyuk and the San Francisco 49ers has taken a major turn for the worse with Aiyuk reportedly asking to be traded.
The star wide receiver reportedly has been looking for an extension somewhere in the area of $30 million a year, but the sides haven’t come close to an agreement.
Many observers feel Aiyuk shouldn’t want to leave a Super Bowl contender, but former NFL receiver James Jones said on “Speak” that the 26-year-old should move on from the 49ers to secure his financial future.
.@89JonesNTAF: Brandon Aiyuk should want out of San Fran because this is his 1st big payday
“My agent always told me this… I hope you do win a Super Bowl, I hope you do have all-pros, I hope you do get a gold jacket but you lose if you have a gold jacket and you’re broke.” pic.twitter.com/VJUtLCk2DR
— Speak (@SpeakOnFS1) July 16, 2024
If Aiyuk does get traded, it would be a massive blow to San Francisco’s hopes of finally winning its first Super Bowl championship since the 1994 season.
The 49ers came extremely close to doing just that last season, and plenty of pundits have been picking them to win the NFC, if not the Vince Lombardi Trophy, this coming season.
Aiyuk, who was a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, has gradually emerged as the Niners’ top option in their passing game, and in 2023, he posted 75 catches for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns.
As he looked to get a contract extension over the past few months, there were rumblings that perhaps the Niners were open to trading him, and at least one team reportedly was discussed as a possible destination.
Now, with 49ers training camp a week away from opening, a dark cloud has condensed over it, and it could turn into a thunderstorm very soon unless some sort of resolution is reached that keeps Aiyuk in the fold.
