This offseason, Brandon Aiyuk has been a constant subject of discussion, especially over his dicey contract talks with the San Francisco 49ers. Although the franchise has continuously dismissed the narrative of the wide receiver seeking trade, they are yet to cook up the deal he desired.
It appears Aiyuk got fed up with being receiver No. 2 and overshadowed by Deebo Samuel despite posting better stats than him. Given, the 49ers have signed Samuel in a lucrative deal worth $71.5 million, Aiyuk is seeking a number close to that. The wide receiver has also expressed his displeasure with the team while also unfollowing them on social media, it appears Aiyuk isn’t going to settle this time.
And as they say, only those who have walked in tattered shoes can truly understand the pain of weary feet. That’s why, tight end George Kittle came forward offering a much-needed piece of advice, as he had been in a similar situation in 2020, entering his final year contract with the Niners.
In a recent conversation with Fox News Digital, Kittle shared how he had talked to Aiyuk multiple times throughout the offseason, during the process of contract negotiation. The Niners’ star tight end shed light on the tough and uncomfortable time that players go through during this process as they have to argue with the team they have been playing with for 2-3 years, about their deserved worth.
I haven’t asked the details of his contract or anything like that, but it’s just more of a, ‘Hey, be patient.’ It’s just kind of the way the Niners do things. I didn’t sign my contract until two-and-a-half weeks into training camp, and that’s pretty stressful when you have to go out there and practice while doing a deal. George Kittle said
Mentioning his own tough experience with the 49ers, Kittle assured Aiyuk that sooner or later, his contract situation will be handled.
Why the 49ers should keep Brandon Aiyuk for the long haul
The 2019 First-team All-Pro also said that he is not worried about his teammate, Aiyuk saying he is in the right head space and not letting anything distract him from his game.
Me, on the outside looking in, I don’t know how we don’t keep Brandon as a 49er for as long as he wants to be one because he’s such a talented player. Brandon Aiyuk added
Aiyuk is coming off his best season with the Niners, logging 75 of his 105 targets for 1,342 yards along with seven touchdowns in the 16 regular season games he played. Therefore, his asking for an extension close to Samuel isn’t unreasonable, though quite expensive for the franchise.
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