49ers offer Brandon Aiyuk contract worth less than $30 million per year

It doesn’t appear that the contract impasse between the San Francisco 49ers and Brandon Aiyuk will end soon after the team’s most recent offer to the star wide receiver.

Aiyuk, 26, just completed his fourth year with the 49ers and his second straight 75-catch, 1,000-yard season. He was instrumental in San Francisco’s rise to the top of the NFC and the Super Bowl and is now entering the final year of his rookie contract after his fifth-year option was picked up in 2023.

The 49ers offered Aiyuk a deal “in the range of $26 million (per year), The Chronicle of San FranciscoMike Silver of , told KNBR 680’s “Papa & Lund” last week. If true, that would put Aiyuk in the range of Cooper Kupp, DeVonta Smith or Nico Collins among the highest-paid receivers in the NFL, according to Over The Cap, or somewhere in the bottom half of the top 10. It’s unclear, however. what would be the real value of the sums declared.

Justin Jefferson, AJ Brown and Amon-Ra St. Brown, meanwhile, signed new deals worth $30 million (St. Brown), $32 million (Brown) and $35 million ( Jefferson) per year.

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ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler more or less confirmed that idea in late May when he reported that Aiyuk wanted a deal that exceeded St. Brown’s four-year, $120 million contract with the Lions. Aiyuk’s personal trainer, former Bengals wide receiver TJ Houshmandzadeh, told 95.7 The Game that St. Brown’s contract is likely the benchmark for what Aiyuk is looking for in his next contract.

“For me, if the Niners are willing to give him that contract, it’s guaranteed (Aiyuk will sign it),” Houshmandzadeh said before adding that Aiyuk is “pessimistic” about his chances of returning to San Francisco.

Aiyuk made his intentions known a week ago when he skipped 49ers minicamp without a new deal in place. He joined CeeDee Lamb of the Dallas Cowboys and Tee Higgins of the Cincinnati Bengals as others seeking new contracts before participating in offseason workouts.

Aiyuk’s situation sets up a tough call for San Francisco this offseason between the young wideout and veteran do-it-all passer Deebo Samuel. Both have been the subject of trade rumors all offseason, but neither has been moved yet. More than likely, one of the two won’t be on the team this time next year, especially after the 49ers drafted wide receiver Ricky Pearsall in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft and wide receiver Jauan Jennings was re-signed.

Now it’s a matter of what to do with Aiyuk in the short and long term.