Brandon Aiyuk’s lengthy contract dispute with San Francisco got here to an finish Thursday when the star receiver agreed on a four-year, $120m contract extension to stick with the 49ers.
Two folks aware of the deal says the perimeters got here to the settlement Thursday after Aiyuk missed his second straight apply regardless of being cleared by staff docs to take part. They spoke to the Related Press on situation of anonymity as a result of the deal hadn’t been introduced.
Aiyuk will get $76m in ensures, in response to one of many folks.
NFL Community first reported the settlement.
Aiyuk had refused to apply all offseason as a part of a contract “maintain in” with the staff, saying he had a again damage. Coach Kyle Shanahan and normal supervisor John Lynch mentioned he was cleared by docs earlier than Wednesday’s apply however Aiyuk nonetheless didn’t be a part of, risking potential fines.
Aiyuk had requested a commerce earlier in the summertime however no staff that Aiyuk wished to go to was prepared to provide the Niners what they wished and pay Aiyuk the wage he sought.
However that was all settled when Aiyuk and the 49ers got here to an settlement 11 days earlier than the season opener towards the New York Jets on 9 September.
That leaves San Francisco with one remaining outstanding maintain out with All-Professional left sort out Trent Williams nonetheless staying away from the staff as he seeks a brand new deal.
Aiyuk had been set to play on the fifth-year possibility price about $14.1m this season however now turns into the newest receiver to money in with a long-term deal.
Eleven receivers earlier than Aiyuk had signed contracts price no less than $70m already this offseason, with Justin Jefferson’s four-year, $140m extension with Minnesota setting the highest of the market. Aiyuk is the sixth receiver with a mean annual contract of no less than $30m.
Aiyuk had been a key a part of San Francisco’s offense final season as he fashioned an incredible reference to quarterback Brock Purdy. Aiyuk had 75 catches and a career-high 1,375 yards final season with seven touchdowns as he earned second-team All-Professional honors.
He put up these numbers on an offense that handed on the second-lowest fee within the NFL final season and had a number of different star playmakers equivalent to Deebo Samuel, George Kittle and All-Professional operating again Christian McCaffrey.
Aiyuk’s 12.8 common yards receiving per goal had been the very best mark for any participant with no less than 75 targets in a season since Jordy Nelson averaged 13.2 for Inexperienced Bay in 2011.
Purdy’s 120.5 passer score when concentrating on Aiyuk ranks the most effective of any QB-pass catcher mixture with no less than 125 makes an attempt over the previous two seasons, in response to Sportradar.
Aiyuk has 269 catches for 3,931 yards and 25 TDs in 4 seasons since being drafted twenty fifth general in 2020 however has taken off since Purdy grew to become quarterback, with eight of his 11 100-yard receiving video games in his profession coming with Purdy as starter.
The Niners have accomplished job rewarding their homegrown stars, handing out megadeals to Kittle, Fred Warner, Samuel, Nick Bosa and now Aiyuk since 2020.
However the previous two proved significantly robust with Bosa not signing his deal till a couple of days earlier than the opener final season.
The 36-year-old Williams is owed $20.05m this season beneath the six-year, $138.1m deal he signed in 2021.
Williams’ common annual worth of simply over $23m has been surpassed by 5 offensive linemen since he grew to become the richest participant on the place when he signed the deal. Tristan Wirfs, Penei Sewell and Christian Darrisaw all bought offers this offseason price no less than $26m a yr.
“Everybody is aware of Trent is a captain, a Corridor of Famer, the large canine of the staff,” cornerback Charvarius Ward mentioned. “Rattling close to everyone is afraid of him. We miss him slightly bit, however like I mentioned, any person has to step as much as be a captain to interchange what’s lacking with these guys not right here.”
