Kurtenbach: 49ers Will Have to Pay for Brandon Aiyuk’s Deal with a Brandon Aiyuk Deal
The San Francisco 49ers have a major financial dilemma on their hands: How do they keep Brandon Aiyuk without sacrificing the future of their roster?
Aiyuk, coming off a career-best season, is due for a massive payday—one that could shake up the 49ers’ salary cap and force tough decisions elsewhere. While San Francisco wants to retain its star receiver, doing so may come at a steep price.
The Cost of Keeping Aiyuk
Aiyuk is seeking a contract in the range of $25-$30 million per year, similar to deals signed by top receivers like A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. The 49ers have already invested heavily in stars like Nick Bosa, Deebo Samuel, and Fred Warner, which makes another blockbuster extension financially challenging.
Aiyuk’s 2023 Stats: 1,342 yards, 7 TDs, 75 receptions Current Contract Status: Entering the final year of his rookie deal Estimated Market Value: $27M per season
To keep Aiyuk, the 49ers may need to restructure existing deals or make tough roster cuts.
Trade or Restructure? The 49ers’ Tough Choice
The reality is that the 49ers may not be able to afford both Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel long-term. If San Francisco extends Aiyuk, they may be forced to:
Restructure contracts of high-paid veterans (e.g., Bosa, Trent Williams) Trade Deebo Samuel to free up cap space Move on from key defensive players after 2024
Aiyuk’s value on the trade market is sky-high, meaning a move could net the 49ers valuable draft picks to maintain roster balance.
Super Bowl Window vs. Future Stability
San Francisco’s Super Bowl window is wide open, but keeping Aiyuk could limit the team’s ability to build depth at other key positions, such as the offensive line and secondary.
The question remains: Will the 49ers prioritize immediate success or long-term financial flexibility?
What should the 49ers do? Pay Aiyuk or explore a trade? Drop your thoughts below! 
