49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk ends contract dispute, agrees to 4-year, $120M deal, AP sources say

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Brandon Aiyuk’s lengthy contract dispute with San Francisco got here to an finish Thursday when the star receiver agreed on a four-year, $120 million contract extension to stick with the 49ers.

Two individuals accustomed to the deal says the edges got here to the settlement Thursday after Aiyuk missed his second straight apply regardless of being cleared by crew medical doctors to take part. They spoke to The Related Press on situation of anonymity as a result of the deal hadn’t been introduced.

Aiyuk will get $76 million in ensures, based on one of many individuals.

NFL Community first reported the settlement.

Aiyuk had refused to apply all offseason as a part of a contract “maintain in” with the crew, saying he had a again harm. Coach Kyle Shanahan and basic supervisor John Lynch mentioned he was cleared by medical doctors earlier than Wednesday’s apply however Aiyuk nonetheless didn’t be a part of, risking doable fines.

Aiyuk had requested a commerce earlier in the summertime however no crew that Aiyuk needed to go to was prepared to present the Niners what they needed and pay Aiyuk the wage he sought.

However that was all settled when Aiyuk and the 49ers got here to an settlement 11 days earlier than the season opener in opposition to the New York Jets on Sept. 9.

That leaves San Francisco with one remaining outstanding maintain out with All-Professional left sort out Trent Williams nonetheless staying away from the crew as he seeks a brand new deal.

Aiyuk had been set to play on the fifth-year possibility value about $14.1 million this season however now turns into the newest receiver to money in with a long-term deal.

Eleven receivers earlier than Aiyuk had signed contracts value no less than $70 million already this offseason, with Justin Jefferson’s four-year, $140 million extension with Minnesota setting the highest of the market. Aiyuk is the sixth receiver with a median annual contract of no less than $30 million.

Aiyuk had been a key a part of San Francisco’s offense final season as he fashioned an amazing reference to quarterback Brock Purdy. Aiyuk had 75 catches and a career-high 1,375 yards final season with seven touchdowns as he earned second-team All-Professional honors.

He put up these numbers on an offense that handed on the second-lowest charge within the NFL final season and had a number of different star playmakers resembling Deebo Samuel, George Kittle and All-Professional operating again Christian McCaffrey.

Aiyuk’s 12.8 common yards receiving per goal have been the best mark for any participant with no less than 75 targets in a season since Jordy Nelson averaged 13.2 for Inexperienced Bay in 2011.

Purdy’s 120.5 passer ranking when concentrating on Aiyuk ranks one of the best of any QB-pass catcher mixture with no less than 125 makes an attempt over the previous two seasons, based on Sportradar.

Aiyuk has 269 catches for 3,931 yards and 25 TDs in 4 seasons since being drafted twenty fifth general in 2020 however has taken off since Purdy grew to become quarterback, with eight of his 11 100-yard receiving video games in his profession coming with Purdy as starter.

The Niners have finished a very good job rewarding their homegrown stars, handing out megadeals to Kittle, Fred Warner, Samuel, Nick Bosa and now Aiyuk since 2020.

However the previous two proved significantly robust with Bosa not signing his deal till a number of days earlier than the opener final season.

The 36-year-old Williams is owed $20.05 million this season beneath the six-year, $138.1 million deal he signed in 2021.

Williams’ common annual worth of simply over $23 million has been surpassed by 5 offensive linemen since he grew to become the richest participant on the place when he signed the deal. Tristan Wirfs, Penei Sewell and Christian Darrisaw all received offers this offseason value no less than $26 million a 12 months.

“Everybody is aware of Trent is a captain, a Corridor of Famer, the large canine of the crew,” cornerback Charvarius Ward mentioned. “Rattling close to all people is terrified of him. We miss him just a little bit, however like I mentioned, any individual has to step as much as be a captain to switch what’s lacking with these guys not right here.”

NOTES: S Talanoa Hufanga took half in particular person drills as he works his method again from an ACL harm final November. He’s anticipated to be again taking part in a while in September. … The 49ers made two additions to their apply squad, signing WR Terrace Marshall Jr. after the 2021 second-round choose was minimize by Carolina and bringing again RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn, who was minimize by San Francisco on Tuesday. The Niners wanted further our bodies at operating again with Christian McCaffrey (calf) and Isaac Guerendo (groin) coping with accidents. … Among the many different 49ers gamers not taking part within the open portion of apply have been DL Yetur Gross-Matos (knee), WR Jauan Jennings (indirect), LB Dee Winters and G Aaron Banks (pinky).

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AP Professional Soccer Author Rob Maaddi contributed to this report

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