As the San Francisco 49ers start to prepare to avenge their loss in the Super Bowl two months ago, there is some anxiety regarding the status of star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
He reportedly asked the team to trade him, something his agent has denied, as he has been hoping to get a lucrative contract extension.
Quarterback Brock Purdy says that Aiyuk has been at the 49ers’ team facility this offseason and that it is simply “that time of year” as far as contract negotiations go, per David Lombardi of The Athletic.
Brock Purdy says that he’s occasionally seen Brandon Aiyuk at the facility this offseason and that the two have texted here and there. Purdy stays away from delving further into the matter, simply repeating “it’s that time of the year” (for contract negotiations, etc)
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) April 22, 2024
Aiyuk is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and since entering the league in 2020, he has progressively improved.
Last season, he led San Francisco with 75 receptions and 1,342 receiving yards while scoring seven touchdowns, although he was arguably snubbed by being left out of the Pro Bowl.
Still, he has emerged as something of a security blanket for Purdy, and if the Niners were to trade him, they would go down a notch from their current status as Super Bowl contenders — quite possibly more than that.
One team that has been rumored to be in the running for Aiyuk is the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are arguably one legitimate wideout threat from having a puncher’s chance of winning the AFC.
49ers general manager John Lynch said that his wish is that Aiyuk remains with the team for the rest of his career, and he even said he is “having good talks” with the 26-year-old.
The franchise has been through this before — Deebo Samuel unfollowed the team on social media two years ago, just as Aiyuk did, only to agree to a lucrative extension soon afterward.
The post Brock Purdy Breaks Silence On Brandon Aiyuk Trade Rumors appeared first on The Cold Wire.