Wait, why are we even speaking about Aiyuk?
Cash and manufacturing. The 2020 first-round pick of Arizona State led the 49ers in targets the previous two seasons and is coming off a profession yr with 1,342 receiving yards and 7 landing catches (together with an acrobatic seize to spark a comeback within the NFC championship recreation). His 17.9 yards per reception had been second within the NFL, and his seven 100-yard video games had been probably the most in a season by a 49er since Jerry Rice in 1995.
In brief: Aiyuk is phenomenal.
However he has been the topic of conversations for months due to his tenuous contract talks.
In accordance with NFL Community’s Mike Garafolo, Aiyuk desires “to at the very least be consistent with” star wideouts Davante Adams of the Las Vegas Raiders and Jaylen Waddle of the Miami Dolphins, whose contracts common roughly $28 million per season. Garafolo reported the 49ers final made a contract provide to Aiyuk in Could.
Aiyuk has pulled the Commanders into the dialog seemingly as a option to stress the 49ers.
After his crew misplaced within the Tremendous Bowl, he hinted at dissatisfaction with a put up on Instagram: “Don’t neglect what acquired you there.” Within the months since, he has expressed frustration in interviews and social media posts, a number of of which have included Daniels.
Aiyuk informed Daniels over a FaceTime dialog made public that the 49ers “don’t need me again.” This month, he shared a screenshot of Daniels’s offseason apply movie with the Commanders. Aiyuk additionally introduced Daniels with him to his interview on the Pivot podcast.
Requested on the podcast what jersey he expects to be sporting this season, Aiyuk mentioned: “If I had been to take a guess, in all probability a Niners uniform. Most likely a Niners uniform, but when not a Niners uniform, in all probability a Washington Commander uniform. If not a Washington Commanders uniform, then in all probability a Steelers uniform.”
The place do issues stand with Aiyuk and the 49ers?
The commerce request hardly precludes the perimeters from reaching an settlement quickly. The 49ers have a historical past of closing offers with prime gamers earlier than they start the ultimate season on their contracts.
And the 49ers have the leverage right here. Aiyuk is coming into the fifth yr of his rookie contract, price about $14.1 million. If he doesn’t report back to coaching camp subsequent week, he could possibly be fined $40,000 per day, and if he misses a preseason recreation, he could possibly be fined one week’s base wage.
The crew can forgive these fines, because it did final season when star defensive finish Nick Bosa, coming off an all-pro season, ended his holdout to signal a long-term deal. The financials play in San Francisco’s favor.
What are the percentages the 49ers commerce Aiyuk?
Low. The 49ers try to win a Tremendous Bowl, and in accordance with reviews, they’ve made it clear to groups they don’t plan on shifting Aiyuk. In the event that they had been going to commerce Aiyuk, they in all probability would have finished so earlier than the draft, after they might have used the picks to assist construct the roster.
Aiyuk’s scenario appears to be following a well-recognized development. The 49ers have let negotiations play out with stars for years, together with tight finish George Kittle (signed Aug. 13, 2020), linebacker Fred Warner (July 21, 2021), large receiver Deebo Samuel (July 31, 2022) and Bosa (Sept. 6).
If the 49ers contemplate shifting him, would the Commanders make a play — and at what value?
Appears unlikely. One particular person with data of the Commanders’ pondering mentioned Normal Supervisor Adam Peters gained’t low cost any alternative to enhance the crew and can do his due diligence on each participant. Peters is aware of Aiyuk effectively from his time in San Francisco. However Peters has additionally mentioned publicly he gained’t mortgage the Commanders’ future for one participant and desires to construct by way of the draft. His roster strikes this offseason have aligned with that philosophy.
Giving up draft belongings to amass a large receiver after which paying him a large contract when the crew already has $24.1 million in cap house tied to Terry McLaurin for this season and one other $25 million for subsequent season would run counter to the Commanders’ agenda. A situation that will make extra sense is a player-for-player commerce. However such offers are uncommon, and would the Commanders actually hand over, say, McLaurin, a revered captain? Most likely not.
How would Aiyuk assist the Commanders?
The Commanders have three large receivers who could possibly be thought-about locks to make the roster (as a lot as any participant could be a lock with a brand new teaching employees): McLaurin, Jahan Dotson and rookie Luke McCaffrey. The remaining jobs are up for grabs, and Washington might use one other elite go catcher and playmaker for Daniels. Aiyuk already has a reference to Daniels on the sector.
What are the potential drawbacks of buying and selling for Aiyuk?
Price. Even when the 49ers had been open to shifting Aiyuk, they wouldn’t give away a participant of his caliber on a budget. For any crew to commerce for him, it’s with the belief it’s going to pay the participant long run after buying him. Picks and cap house are commodities for each crew however particularly one in a rebuilding part such because the Commanders.
What appears to be probably the most logical final result?
Aiyuk performs for the 49ers — for this season on the very least. Given San Francisco’s historical past of reaching offers with gamers earlier than the beginning of their remaining season below contract, the identical might occur with Aiyuk. If not, the 49ers might use the franchise tag on him in 2025.
