The San Francisco 49ers are reportedly poised to start contract negotiations with Brandon Aiyuk after free agency, and his representatives will be grateful for a piece of major news involving another top wide receiver that came down on Monday.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans, previously expected to hit free agency, will remain with the Bucs after agreeing to a two-year, $52 million deal.

For Aiyuk, who is set to play on his fifth-year option in 2024, Evans' average annual value of $26 million gives him useful leverage in upcoming talks with the Niners.

Evans is a potential future Hall of Famer who has recorded 10 successive 1,000-yard seasons. It is no surprise, therefore, that he has commanded the fourth-highest average salary among wide receivers. 

However, Evans is also 30 years old, and the fact he has received such a contract will be used by Aiyuk's representatives in negotiations. Aiyuk, by contrast, is still only 25 and, in 2023, established himself as one of the premier wideouts in the game, earning second-team All-Pro honors after racking up a career-high 1,342 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.

Aiyuk was second in yards per reception (17.9), two yards more than Evans. No receiver in the NFL had more receptions than Aiyuk's 29. Evans had 20.

Of course, the counter argument is that Aiyuk is nowhere close to achieving what Evans has, at least in terms of consistency of production, at the highest level.

But he is an ascending player who appears primed to continue on his current trajectory and is a crucial part of San Francisco's passing game. Aiyuk's importance, his recent production, his age and the contract given to Evans is a combination that will mean he can probably demand a top-five receiver contract by average annual value when his team and the Niners begin their negotiations.

A 49ers trade for Zach Wilson would be franchise malpractice

There’s no reason to do it.