The San Francisco 49ers‘ General Manager has revealed that the team plans to exercise wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk’s fifth-year option. This news comes just days after a Tweet from Aiyuk referencing being paid as he enters his fourth year with the team. Here are details about with Aiyuk’s fifth-year option will mean for the 49ers.
Brandon Aiyuk’s Fifth-Year Option
While nothing is official as of now, the 49ers General Manager John Lynch did say that what would make the most sense for the team is to exercise Aiyuk’s fifth-year option. This news comes from Nick Wagoner on Twitter. The young wide receiver was drafted in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft with the 25th overall pick. Aside from his rookie year, Aiyuk has played in every game, which is valuable to a team riddled with injuries.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk – Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
Picking up Aiyuk’s fifth-year option would keep the receiver on the team through the 2024 season. According to David Lombardi on Twitter, picking up the fifth-year option would give Aiyuk a $14.124 million guaranteed contract. The team had to do the same with Nick Bosa last offseason in order to give them this year to negotiate an extension. Aiyuk’s fifth-year option not only gives the team time to negotiate a longer extension, but it also gives the NFL time to raise the cap space. Aside from 2020, the NFL’s space increases every year. Keeping the Aiyuk on the Roster through 2024 gives time for the league’s cap space to continue to grow.
Aiyuk is a valuable player, and the team will look to keep him as long as they can. The news from John Lynch comes just days after a tweet from Aiyuk about where he stands in San Francisco’s offense.
1k as the 4th option in a run first offense ?? I’m as real as it get word to Lil baby and est gee! I’m ready to stand on business every time. Year 4 ???
— BA (@THE2ERA) March 21, 2023
The 49ers have a stacked team on offense between Deebo Samuel, Christian McCaffrey, and George Kittle. While of course, it is all speculation, these could be the three players ahead of him that are referred to in the tweet. Just because Aiyuk is the second wide receiver on the depth chart does not mean he is not strong enough to be the first. In the 2022 regular season, Aiyuk had 78 receptions for 1,015 yards and eight touchdowns, according to ESPN. While he may not be the first option, he had the most receiving yards on the team.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk – Duane Burleson/AP Photo
During the 2022 postseason, Aiyuk’s numbers began to go down. The wide receiver had just six receptions for 109 yards, according to ESPN. Of course, during the NFC Championship game, there were not many passing plays with no available quarterback, but there was another factor for his fewer targets. Everyone was healthy during the playoffs, such as Deebo Samuel. This led to Aiyuk getting fewer targets. Samuel was targeted 22 times compared to Aiyuk’s ten.
It can be difficult for Aiyuk not to be the top receiver on the team, especially most likely being the 49ers’ best route runner. There are a lot of weapons on one team, and frustration is understandable. The tweet by the young receiver may seem cryptic, but it ends on the note that he seems motivated for year four. There were rumors that teams have called the 49ers’ front office regarding a trade, but the team has no intentions of trading the receiver. Picking up Aiyuk’s fifth-year option solidifies the team’s plans to keep him.
He may be the fourth option, but it is safe to say Aiyuk is going to push for a strong fourth season and work towards a big contract in the near future.
