The San Francisco 49ers plan to utilize the fifth-year option on WR Brandon Aiyuk
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch showed his hands regarding the plan for wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
Brandon Aiyuk is going to be a member of the San Francisco 49ers for some time.
At the NFL owners' meetings in Arizona, 49ers general manager John Lynch let it be known that the 49ers are fully planning to use the fifth-year option on Aiyuk, who has found a nice home within San Francisco's offense.
"Brandon's been excellent for us," Lynch said to reporters. "I'd be shocked if we didn't. We still have some time. It's (the deadline) the day after the draft, I believe, and we have to make those decisions. And so we're still discussing, but it probably makes sense to do that for Brandon.
"He's a really good player. It's interesting when you're at these league functions, ownership meetings, combine, a lot of people ask about him. They really appreciate his game, and they see it ascending. And he's a guy we're very fortunate to have, and I think he's just coming into his own, too… I think it's only going to get better. So we're excited about watching Brandon move forward with us."
Aiyuk is a guy who has earned everything at the NFL level. It is his development that led Lynch to express excitement regarding Aiyuk staying a member of the team long term.
Aiyuk was the 49ers' No. 25 selection in the 2020 NFL Draft. He started 17 games last season, amassing 78 receptions for 1,015 yards and eight touchdowns.
Through three seasons in the NFL, Aiyuk caught 194 passes for 2,589 yards and 18 touchdowns in 46 appearances. 44 of those appearances came as starts.
Last season, Aiyuk earned a playing time bonus. And with the 49ers electing to pick up his fifth-year option, the receiver is guaranteed $14.12 million in 2024. He is also still a candidate for a healthy pay raise by way of a contract extension.
Electing to guarantee Aiyuk's fifth-yea option was a no-brain decision. The franchise has invested time and resources into making him a formidable NFL receiver, and they are just now starting to see returns on that investment.
With Lynch also revealed on Monday that he trusts Brock Purdy as the 49ers' signal caller, it is clear San Francisco wants to maintain continuity between the receivers and the quarterback throwing them the ball.
Also eligible for a fifth-year option is Javon Kinlaw. But by reading the tea leaves, the 49ers are not expected to make a move to guarantee the defensive tackle $10.5 million in 2024.
In the end, the 49ers are choosing to do what many expected them to do regarding Aiyuk. And San Francisco is better for it.
