Brandon Aiyuk remains to be a member of the 49ers, however the veteran wideout just lately admitted that he has thought of becoming a member of forces with the Washington Commanders and their rookie quarterback, Jayden Daniels. He is additionally listed the Pittsburgh Steelers as one other potential possibility.
“If not a Niners uniform in all probability a Washington Commanders uniform,” Aiyuk mentioned on “The Pivot” podcast. “If not a Washington Commanders uniform, in all probability Steelers uniform.”
With Daniels wanting on, Aiyuk talked about the potential for taking part in with Daniels in Washington if he and the 49ers half methods. Aiyuk is at present slated to play beneath his fifth-year possibility this season, however he has made it clear that he needs a contract extension. Aiyuk’s asking worth is reportedly the factor that’s holding up a potential extension with the 49ers, who’ve mentioned all alongside that they need to preserve Aiyuk.
“Shit, there is a quarterback proper there,” Aiyuk mentioned whereas wanting in Daniels’ path. “I am desirous about what I can do with him. I am desirous about, if the Niners don’t need me to return again to play with them, I am desirous about what I can do. I do know what I can do.”
This is not the primary time that Aiyuk has been linked with Daniels and the Commanders. Final week, Aiyuk instructed Daniels that the 49ers “don’t need me again.” Aiyuk has additionally made different feedback just lately in regards to the 49ers not wanting him. He just lately responded to a report that acknowledged that the 49ers and Commanders had had discussions relating to a potential commerce involving Aiyuk previous to April’s NFL Draft that by no means gained critical traction.
“However I assumed the Niners was by no means tryna commerce me?” Aiyuk wrote on Instagram with reference the report.
Aiyuk has additionally been linked to the Steelers, who reportedly did have interaction in commerce talks with the 49ers in the course of the draft about buying both Aiyuk or fellow wideout Deebo Samuel. Whereas they do have George Pickens, the Steelers are in want of one other top-tier wideout after buying and selling former Professional Bowler Diontae Johnson to Carolina earlier this offseason.
Aiyuk did have a gathering on Monday with the 49ers that reportedly went effectively (through NFL Media), effectively sufficient that the 49ers have no plans to commerce Aiyuk, the staff’s main receiver the previous two seasons. However the reality stays that no extension has been agreed to.
The 2 sides have been reportedly near getting a deal finished earlier this offseason, however that was earlier than the receiver market skyrocketed after Justin Jefferson, A.J. Brown, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jaylen Waddle, DeVonta Smith and Nico Collins every signed hefty new extensions.
Given what has just lately transpired, it is doubtless that Aiyuk needs an extension that’s just like those his friends just lately signed, which might pay him someplace within the ballpark of $30 million yearly. Aiyuk, who’s at present slated to make $14.124 million this season beneath his fifth-year possibility, has a projected market worth of $26.5 million yearly, in response to Spotrac.
At this level, it seems that Aiyuk and the 49ers are entrenched in a standstill. Both the 2 sides will discover a center floor, one aspect will resolve give in, or a breakup will happen, both within the type of a yearlong holdout or a commerce.
Given his current feedback, it is clear that Aiyuk needs to both re-sign with the 49ers, play alongside Daniels in D.C., or resume his profession with the Steelers in Pittsburgh. It will be attention-grabbing to see how this all performs out.