San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy isn’t trying to get too involved in the team’s situation with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
Aiyuk is entering the final year of his deal, but given the 49ers’ financial constraints, he may prove too expensive for San Francisco to afford long term. He also doesn’t seem open to taking any hometown discounts, further complicating things for the Niners.
There was also a recent rumor that Aiyuk had requested a trade, but his agent came out and refuted the report.
Purdy recently spoke on Aiyuk, saying that he has seen Aiyuk at the team’s facility and that the two have texted back and forth on occasion. However, Purdy said that he is staying away from getting too deep into the matter, noting that it’s simply “that time of the year” for contract negotiations (via David Lombardi of The Athletic).
Aiyuk, who played his collegiate football at Arizona State, was selected by the 49ers with the 25th overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft.
His first couple of years were rather uneventful, but he broke out in his third season, catching 78 passes for 1,015 yards and eight touchdowns.
Then, this past season, Aiyuk established himself as San Francisco’s clear No. 1 receiver, hauling in 75 receptions for 1,342 yards and seven scores.
The problem for the Niners is that they also have to pay Purdy, and they have numerous other big-name players on the roster already earning sizeable salaries, such as fellow wide out Deebo Samuel.
We’ll see what the 49ers decide to do with Aiyuk as the offseason progresses, but more than likely, they will hold on to him for at least one more as they push for a Super Bowl title.
Chances are, Brock Purdy will still be throwing passes to Brandon Aiyuk in 2024.
More must-reads: