San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

49ers' latest offer would put Brandon Aiyuk among top-10 highest-paid WRs

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated Jun 10, 2024 3:40 PM ET

Brandon Aiyuk wants to be paid like one of the top wide receivers in the NFL, and the San Francisco 49ers’ latest contract offer does just that, according to the San Francisco Chronicle’s Mike Silver.

However, multiple reports indicate the two sides are still far apart in their negotiations, signaling Aiyuk is aiming higher than top-10-WR money.

“I'm hearing their offer is maybe in the $26-million range,” Silver told KNBR. “Which certainly is not Justin Jefferson money — nor should it be — but it's closer to that DeVonta Smith, Amon-Ra St. Brown, that next tier down.”

The $26M-per-year salary would make Aiyuk the eighth-highest-paid receiver in the NFL just behind Los Angeles’ Cooper Kupp ($26.7M annually) and ahead of Smith ($25M annually), per Over the Cap.

The three highest-paid wideouts in the NFL — Justin Jefferson ($35M annually), A.J. Brown ($32M annually) and St. Brown ($30.002M annually) — all signed their new deals this offseason. It’s believed Aiyuk is also seeking a contract in that $30M-per-year range as well.

#49ers Brandon Aiyuk doesn’t want to go anywhere ✍️

“I want to be a 49er beyond this season”

What will the future hold for Brandon Aiyuk & Niners?

️ @AiyukDaily pic.twitter.com/nsF65f8084
— (@TheSFNiners) June 10, 2024

Aiyuk’s personal wide receivers coach, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, recently stated a deal similar to the one the Lions gave St. Brown (four years, $120 million) would likely get it done.

“If the 49ers want to get B.A. signed, give him the Amon-Ra deal,” Houshmandzadeh told 95.7 The Game. “I guarantee he'd be in there tomorrow. They don't want to do that. ... If they'd offered him Amon-Ra's deal, he would be in camp.”

The 49ers are already paying fellow wideout Deebo Samuel $23.85M per season, and if they were to re-sign Aiyuk to an even larger contract, it would likely spell the end of Samuel’s time with the team. If Aiyuk doesn’t sign long-term, the 49ers could opt to keep Samuel and move on from Aiyuk next offseason.

“Let’s say that’s (San Francisco’s) last, best offer and he doesn’t want to take it, and he doesn’t want to sit out a season… and he says fine, ‘I’m just going to take your fifth-year option and play it out,” Silver added. “…Aiyuk still won’t have great leverage because you could (franchise) tag him then try to do a deal or just tag him.”

Michael Gallagher

Michael Gallagher is a longtime sports journalist based out of Nashville with a decade of experience covering college football, mixed martial arts and prep sports plus the NFL and NHL — specifically the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Predators. He’s covered several notable sporting events including an AFC Championship game, a Stanley Cup Final, an NHL All-Star Game and an NHL Stadium Series. Some of his past bylines can be found at the Nashville Scene, SB Nation, The Hockey News and Fox Sports Knoxville

More must-reads: