Brandon Aiyuk's contract extension with 49ers looking like a big misstep

The on-again, off-again relationship between the San Francisco 49ers and star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk appears to be off again. Things seemed to be resolved over a year ago when the 49ers and Aiyuk agreed to a four-year $120 million contract extension, but that deal appears to be on the verge of completely falling apart. 

49ers reportedly void guaranteed money as two sides approach split

According to a report from The Athletic's Dianna Russini and Michael Silver on Friday, the 49ers voided the guaranteed money on Aiyuk's 2026 contract after failing to attend meetings and declining to participate in team activities. Aiyuk has reportedly declined to file a grievance against the team through the NFLPA to help make it easier for the two sides to split after the season.

Russini and Silver report that there are members of the 49ers organization who hope the situation can be salvaged, but that does not seem likely.

From a 49ers perspective, they probably should not really try, mostly because this is not the first time the 49ers and Aiyuk have clashed and had their relationship teeter on the brink of falling apart.

Before signing his contract extension a year ago, Aiyuk seemed to be done with the 49ers as the team was working on potential trades with the Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers. It was not until just before a potential trade with the Steelers could be completed that Aiyuk and head coach Kyle Shanahan were able to hash things out. Aiyuk then re-signed and began the 2024 season in San Francisco. 

But a knee injury just seven games into the season cut his 2024 season short. 

He has not been on the field since.

The only question the 49ers should be asking is: Why is any of this worth it?

This is the second time Aiyuk has distanced himself from the team. He is coming off a major knee injury and will likely not have played football in a year and a half the next time he has a chance to be on the field, and the team is still winning games without him. They do not need this headache or distraction. 

It makes sense as to why they wanted to keep him. He had been an outstanding player with the team for the first four years of his career and a big-time contributor. But it is becoming increasingly clear he does not really want to be there or be involved with it. So stop forcing it. It might be a situation where everybody would be best served with a change of scenery and a fresh start somewhere else.