The San Francisco 49ers appear to be in danger of losing wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, and quarterback Brock Purdy wants him to know he is in his corner.
This past weekend, Purdy revealed that he has recently spoken to Aiyuk about his uncertain future with the 49ers.
“I just told him I’ll always have his back and support him in whatever he does,” Purdy said, via Cam Inman of The Mercury News. “It’s a business thing, so for me to say anything about that, that’s out of my pay grade.”
Aiyuk is preparing to enter the final year of his deal, and he may prove too expensive for San Francisco to retain long term. The star pass-catcher has made it clear that he won’t be taking any hometown discounts, and with the Niners having a rather tenuous financial situation as it is, he may end up playing his football elsewhere next year. Or potentially even before the 2024 campaign if the 49ers trade him.
“He and I talk through things and I hear him out,” added Purdy. “At the end of the day, what he’s done for me, giving me an opportunity to come in and throw him the ball, I’ll always be thankful for that.”
There had even been some chatter that Aiyuk requested to be dealt, but his agent, Ryan Williams, refuted that claim.
That doesn’t mean San Francisco won’t trade Aiyuk, however.
There would be a plethora of teams that would jump at the opportunity to add Aiyuk, and the Pittsburgh Steelers and Jacksonville Jaguars have already been mentioned as interested parties.
All of that being said, the Niners are trying to win a Super Bowl, and trading Aiyuk would obviously be counterproductive to that goal. The 49ers may opt to hold on to Aiyuk through 2024 and then revisit the situation next offseason.
The 26-year-old hauled in 75 receptions for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns this past season.
If San Francisco does opt to move on from Brandon Aiyuk, Brock Purdy would certainly miss him. That’s for sure.
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