49ers Likely To Cut Brandon Aiyuk Today?

There are a lot of complicated technicalities to Aiyuk’s situation that are in a gray area when it comes to player contracts and what’s defined by the CBA. However, PFT explains the crux of the issue is that if Aiyuk remains on San Francisco’s roster past today, they’ll owe him $1.52 million. 

Given there doesn’t seem to be a world where Aiyuk plays for the 49ers again, the expectation from PFT is the team will release him to avoid paying him that money. 

Aiyuk was officially reinstated to the roster yesterday and it was listed on the league’s daily transaction report. Although the 49ers had a two-week roster exemption, that apparently doesn’t apply to his salary. 

The 49ers were seeking repayment of around $13 million in bonus money for breach of contract, so PFT notes it’s possible the two sides reached a compromise that prompted San Francisco and the NFL to grant Aiyuk’s reinstatement request.

Jordan Schultz says at least one NFC team has had internal discussions about signing Aiyuk to the practice squad once he’s free. 

Given Aiyuk’s track record and the league-wide need for receivers, he becomes a very interesting wild card candidate with the trade deadline wrapping up today, even though he hasn’t practiced, let alone played, since the 2024 season. 

Aiyuk, 28, was a one-year starter at Arizona State and earned first-team All-Pac-12 in his final season. The 49ers traded up with the Vikings to select him with the No. 25 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. 

He signed a four-year, $12,531,342 rookie contract that included a $6,673,703 signing bonus. The 49ers exercised his fifth-year option last year for $14,124,000, fully guaranteed, for the 2024 season. 

Aiyuk officially agreed to a four-year, $120 million extension that includes $76 million guaranteed after a lengthy period in which he was nearly traded to the Steelers. However, he tore his ACL that year. 

A dispute later arose between Aiyuk and the 49ers related to his rehab which resulted in San Francisco voiding his guarantees and Aiyuk stopping all contact with the 49ers. He was placed on the left-squad list and was not reinstated until this week. 

In 2024, Aiyuk appeared in seven games for the 49ers, catching 23 passes for 351 receiving yards and no touchdowns.

We will have more on Aiyuk as it becomes available.