Going nearly two days without a Brandon Aiyuk update has been out of character for this space, based on the news volume this situation has produced this summer. John Lynch offered another one, discussing the sides’ enduring extension talks rather than any trade possibility.
The 49ers are believed to have trade parameters set with the Steelers, but that seems like the organization’s backup plan. After all, it would be challenging to replace Aiyuk, given the timing here. And the 49ers are gunning for an elusive Lynch-Kyle Shanahan-era Super Bowl title. Aiyuk represents a central part of that equation, and the 49ers are still trying to hammer out a deal. They ramped up negotiations again late last week. However, they have been at this for several months.
“We started this early and, for whatever reason, haven’t been able to get it across the finish line,” Lynch said during an appearance on KNBR (via NFL.com). “That’s been frustrating, but the communication still has been really good both with Brandon and his agent, and we’re trying to figure out solutions.
“You know I’m always hopeful. I’m an optimistic person in nature, and I’m always hopeful that we’ll get there and get there soon. I can tell you, we feel the urgency to have him, the season’s approaching, and we have ample time.”
As the Steelers wait as the fallback option, the 49ers have upped their extension offer to the second-team All-Pro wide receiver. After a hyper-efficient 2023 season, Aiyuk has seen the receiver market shift once again. The fifth-year player has placed his value considerably higher than the 49ers’ assessment, but it does seem the gap has narrowed. Would the 49ers trade their best outside receiver at this juncture on their timeline because of the remaining small value gap?
Lynch did indicate he wished he knew what Aiyuk’s holdup is, as the wideout’s slow-moving talks have dominated 49ers coverage this year. The eighth-year San Francisco GM did discuss Aiyuk in trades during the draft, but this is not the first time since the negotiations began that Lynch expressed hope that Aiyuk would remain a 49er in the long term.
Although the team agreed to deals with George Kittle and Deebo Samuel early in camp (2020, 2022), they reached resolutions with Nick Bosa and Jimmy Garoppolo just before the season. The 49ers still have more than three weeks before Week 1, though Aiyuk would presumably need some practice reps before the Jets matchup to begin the season as a full-time player. Shanahan said he trusts the receiver to be ready; however, Aiyuk has attended meetings during his hold-in.
“We love BA as a player; I think you see it every time he goes out there representing the Niners,” Lynch said. “He’s a guy we traded up for in the first round back in the ’20 draft. I remember doing it from my guest house during the COVID times, and we’re fortunate to have added him to our squad, and we’d really like to keep him around. So we’ll see how it goes.”
Aiyuk, 26, is believed to have wedged the Patriots and Browns out of the mix. Although the Steelers’ offensive situation is not on the 49ers’ level and does not feature a surefire long-term QB option, Aiyuk looks to have approved Pittsburgh as a destination. However, the Steelers might be waiting a bit as Lynch sounds committed to taking the time necessary to complete an extension.
