Latest tidbit gives the 49ers exactly what they’re hoping for as the Brandon Aiyuk saga finally shows signs of turning their way
49ers voided Brandon Aiyuk’s contract guarantees, and that opens the way for sides parting ways next offseason.
When the San Francisco 49ers decided to void Brandon Aiyuk’s future contract guarantees, it became evident that both sides are likely bound to go separate ways soon. Now, after giving the wide receiver a four-year, $120 million extension last offseason, the team would certainly want some type of compensation to let him walk.
Jeremy Fowler reports that a trade is on the table
Brandon Aiyuk is slated to earn $27 million in 2026 — $26.15 million of that total had become fully guaranteed on April 1, but the 49ers were able to void it due to a player’s failure to show up for rehab appointments during the offseason, via ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
The NFL insider also reported that, without the guarantees, a trade could become more realistic for San Francisco.
“A few teams I spoke to believe Aiyuk is slightly more tradeable with the voided guarantees, though with the option money still technically on the books, reworking his deal altogether would be the preferred method, Fowler wrote. “And Aiyuk might not want that. Getting released and hitting free agency in March would be the cleanest path for him — and he would have suitors. He’s only 27 and had 1,342 yards in 2023.”
Contract situation
Without the guarantees, it’s easier to restructure Aiyuk’s contract. The new team could send the 49ers some type of compensation to secure the chance to negotiate with the receiver, while negotiating a new deal with his agent.
That would be the ideal outcome for the 49ers.
However, it’s still unlikely at this point. We’ve seen similar cases over the past few years — quarterback Derek Carr with the Las Vegas Raiders and cornerback Jaire Alexander with the Green Bay Packers, for example — where interested teams won’t be willing to give up any compensation for a player that will most likely be released anyway.
The 49ers are probably going to cut Aiyuk, and keeping him at his current salary doesn’t seem like a realistic outcome after voiding his guarantees. So teams could just wait and get him in free agency with a completely new deal and without spending draft capital in a trade.
San Francisco can still find a way to convince teams that a trade is necessary, even if the compensation won’t be as high as a player of Aiyuk’s caliber would usually generate.
San Francisco 49ers News
The 49ers’ contract fiasco with Brandon Aiyuk is the latest costly lesson every NFL franchise should heed for the future
Brandon Aiyuk’s saga with the 49ers holds a lesson that every NFL team should heed.
