Brandon Aiyuk requests trade from 49ers as WR seeks new contract

Brandon Aiyuk‘s offseason of contractual discontent has reached a crossroads.

NFL Network Insider Mike Garafolo reported on Tuesday that the wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers has requested a trade.

Garafolo reports that Aiyuk’s request follows an offseason riddled with failed attempts to negotiate a contract extension with the 49ers. Since May, the team has been reluctant to engage in such discussions.

Garafolo added that a first-round pick from the 2020 NFL Draft, who is expected to make 14.124 million in the last year of his rookie contract, recently requested a trade following an unsuccessful meeting.

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The 26-year-old’s request follows a career-best 2023 season in which he caught 75 passes for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns, demonstrating an uncanny rapport with 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy within a San Francisco offense loaded with talent. The 49ers went ahead and extended a couple of his teammates, signing Christian McCaffrey to a record-setting two-year, $38 million extension, and keeping receiver Jauan Jennings on a one-year deal worth up to $15.4 million.

Aiyuk’s contract, however, went unaddressed, fueling an uncomfortable offseason in which the receiver went as far as publicly listing other teams (Washington, Pittsburgh) he could see himself joining if things didn’t work out with the 49ers.

Aiyuk skipped the 49ers’ mandatory minicamp while seeking a long-term deal, which incurred a fine. With two straight 1,000-yard seasons under his belt and a contract year fast approaching, it appears Aiyuk’s patience has run out.