Brandon Aiyuk's trade request: The full timeline of how the 49ers and their All-Pro WR got to this point
The San Francisco 49ers are six days from the start of training camp, when the rest of the roster will join their class of rookies in reporting to the facility. One player who seems very unlikely to be there is wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who on Tuesday submitted a trade request in the most dramatic […]
The San Francisco 49ers are six days from the start of training camp, when the rest of the roster will join their class of rookies in reporting to the facility.
One player who seems very unlikely to be there is wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who on Tuesday submitted a trade request in the most dramatic development of the long saga surrounding negotiations over a long-term extension for the All-Pro wide receiver.
So how did it get to this point? Let's look back at the full timeline of a negotiation process that appears very far away from reaching a positive resolution.
February 11 – Aiyuk hints at potential departure
In the wake of the 49ers' crushing overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 58, a clearly crestfallen Aiyuk was far committal about the prospect of staying with San Francisco.
Asked if he would remain with San Francisco long term, he replied: "“If that’s the right move, yeah.”
March 19 – Tweet to Tomlin sends Steelers fans into frenzy
The Pittsburgh Steelers are wide receiver needy and have consistently been talked up as a potential destination for Aiyuk throughout the offseason.
Aiyuk helped spark the speculation back in March when he tweeted at Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin: "@CoachTomlin they saying we twins. What you think?"
That was in response to posts on social media comparing their appearance.
Tomlin then asked 49ers GM John Lynch about subsequent speculation when the pair both attended Michigan's pro day.
"[Tomlin] is like, 'Bro, what's going on,'" Lynch said the annual meetings. "I promise you nothing's going on there."
April 13 – Aiyuk unfollows 49ers on social media
It's a part on any drawn out contract negotiation, every player going through one does it, it means nothing, and yet it always attracts attention.
Aiyuk took the predictable step of unfollowing the Niners on social media a couple of weeks before the draft.
The timing could have been considered significant, and the 49ers' next step only increased doubts about Aiyuk's long-term future.
April 26 – 49ers draft Ricky Pearsall in the first round
Many expected the 49ers to address the offensive line with their first pick in the opening round of the draft since 2021.
However, they instead raised plenty of eyebrows by taking wide receiver Pearsall, a former college teammate of Aiyuk, 31st overall.
The move naturally led to significant talk around Aiyuk, and fellow wide receiver Deebo Samuel, with reports revealing San Francisco had been engaged in discussions with rival teams about both during the draft.
However, asked about the trade rumors after selecting Pearsall, Lynch said:
"I know that we’re continuing to have positive talks with [WR Brandon Aiyuk] B.A. and we are really efforting to get something done with him. And we’re excited about continuing down that path. And Brandon being a part of this team. [WR] Deebo [Samuel] is a part of this team and a big part of this team. So, like I said, we feel great about that group and we feel like we just made it better with another really good addition to it who complements the group real well.”
May 20-June 6 – Aiyuk skips OTAs and minicamp
It would have made very little sense for Aiyuk to practice during voluntary OTAs and risk injury during a negotiation. However, Aiyuk took things a step further than others such as Samuel have done in the past by also electing not to show up for mandatory minicamp, a decision that actively hurt his own pocket.
However, asked if Aiyuk refusing to report changed anything for him, Shanahan told a press conference:
"No, to me it doesn’t change at all. You find out when guys are in those situations, whether they come or not. Some guys come because they want to avoid a fine, and some don’t. But regardless, it doesn’t change anything when those guys have come. We know what the process is, we know what the business part is, and that’s just how they decide how they want to handle this week.”
June 17 – Aiyuk claims 49ers don't want him
More shocking than Aiyuk deciding not to report for minicamp was his move weeks later to post a video to TikTok in which he was filmed telling former college teammate Jayden Daniels, drafted second overall by the Washington Commanders, that the Niners had said they did not want him back.
That post intensified the noise around his saga with the 49ers, and Aiyuk would soon have more to say.
June 24 – Aiyuk has positive meeting with 49ers
The contract impasse took an unusual turn last month when Ryan Clark revealed on ESPN that Aiyuk had requested a meeting with Lynch and Shanahan to discuss the situation.
It was a meeting that reportedly went well, reaffirming that neither side was keen to part ways. Aiyuk confirmed the meeting was set to take place in an appearance on The Pivot podcast, which was released a few days later and revealed much about his mindset and what he meant in the comments he made to Daniels.
June 28 – Aiyuk clarifies his comments
Aiyuk's appearance on The Pivot saw him quickly asked about that TikTok video.
He responded by revealing exactly what the 49ers had said to lead him to make those claims.
"They told me that they didn’t think we were on the same page and that they didn’t believe we were going to, and that was about it at that time," said Aiyuk. "But it’s part of it, it’s part of the contract negotiation, trying to sway stuff in either direction."
While Aiyuk was initially diplomatic with the truth in claiming the Niners had said they didn't want him back, he was very clear in disclosing that he had been taking negotiations "personal" and that he would relish the opportunity to reunite with Daniels in Washington. Hardly words to put the trade speculation to bed.
July 7 – Aiyuk's social media sequel
The 49ers privately probably weren't thrilled with Aiyuk's podcast appearance, and they likely would have been similarly displeased by his follow-up to his previous social media activity.
This time, Aiyuk posted an Instagram video that featured a still of him looking at Commanders practice tape featuring Daniels at quarterback. By this point, Aiyuk's preferred landing spot in any potential trade was already obvious to anyone paying attention, but that post reaffirmed it.
July 16 – Aiyuk submits trade request
And so to the latest chapter in the story that has dominated the 49ers' offseason, with Aiyuk's frustration finally reaching a tipping point.
Mike Garafolo's report revealing the trade request featured one surprising detail, which is that the 49ers have not been willing to engage in negotiations since May, indicating they are playing some significant hardball in refusing to move off their previous contract offer to Aiyuk, which was said to be worth $26 million annually.
The lack of movement seemingly led Aiyuk to lose patience, but the chances of him being traded are still slim. Aiyuk probably knows this, with his request likely a move to draw the 49ers back to the table. Deebo Samuel did the same a couple of years ago and got the payday he wanted. Aiyuk will hope these protracted and irritating negotiations have the same outcome.
NFL executive’s thoughts on Brandon Aiyuk won’t help 49ers’ chances of getting contract extension done
The wide receiver’s reps could use it to their advantage.
