Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
General manager John Lynch addressed reporters at the NFL owners meetings on Monday, emphasizing the San Francisco 49ers' active pursuit of a contract extension for wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
There has been significant speculation surrounding Aiyuk's status this offseason. The receiver is slated to play on his fifth-year option, which guarantees him $14.124 million in 2024.
While the team would be content with Aiyuk playing on that fifth-year option, it would prefer to secure the star receiver to a long-term deal before he returns to the field.
"We're actively talking with Brandon, trying to figure something out," Lynch declared. "I always talk—we have a good history of working with the guys we want to get done to get something done, and it takes two sides. So, can we do that? We'll see.
"There's a number of different directions that it could go, but we appreciate the heck out of Brandon and who he is as a player. We want him to be a part of the Niners, so we're going to work towards making that a reality."
Lynch added, "We're talking with his guys, trying to talk about some parameters of some things. I'm not going to get into [the details]. I never do. But we're having discussions, and that's a good thing."
When asked if Aiyuk would be open to playing on the fifth-year option, Lynch responded, "We'll see. You'd have to ask him that."
Lynch refuted reports suggesting the 49ers engaged in trade discussions with other teams. Earlier this month, Mia O'Brien, a reporter for Jacksonville radio station 1010XL, claimed that the 49ers sought the Jaguars' No. 17 overall pick and wide receiver Zay Jones in exchange for Aiyuk.
Andrew Fillipponi of Pittsburgh-area radio station 93.7 The Fan later reported that the Steelers expressed interest in trading for the wide receiver. Although, that report didn't expressly state that any discussions had taken place.
"I promise you, nothing's going on there," Lynch affirmed.
Aiyuk amassed a team-leading 1,342 receiving yards last season, marking a career-high and his second consecutive season surpassing 1,000 receiving yards. He has spent his entire NFL career with the 49ers, who drafted him with the No. 25 overall pick in 2020.
"He's become a tremendous player, and he's earned everything that's going to come his way, and we're really proud of him for that. ... You just can't have everybody, but Brandon is somebody we'd love to keep around," Lynch concluded.
49ers and WR Brandon Aiyuk reportedly not close on a new contract
By Marc Adams
14 mins
The San Francisco 49ers need wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. And Aiyuk needs the 49ers. But the two sides are reportedly not close on a new deal that would keep the star receiver in San Francisco for years to come.
Sunday morning, on SportsCenter, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that the 49ers and Aiyuk are not close in contract negotiations, leading many to wonder if Aiyuk will hold out (not show up) or hold in (show up but not participate) for the remainder of the offseason and even training camp.
"This one's tricky because he was implicated in some trade talks around the draft," Fowler said. "He wants a new contract; has one year left. I'm told the 49ers certainly are open to doing a deal, but talks have not progressed enough where things are close. And
Does 49ers QB Brock Purdy need Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel for success?
By David Bonilla
May 15
Rumors circulated before and during the 2024 NFL Draft about the possibility of the San Francisco 49ers losing one of their top two wide receivers—Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel. Such a scenario could have significantly impacted the team's success in the upcoming season and posed a potential blow for quarterback Brock Purdy, who has thrived alongside the dynamic duo on the field.
However, none of these speculations came to fruition. Both Aiyuk and Samuel remain on the roster, at least for another season, though their future beyond that remains uncertain.
Aiyuk is seeking a contract extension that would position him among the highest-paid wide receivers in the NFL. At the same time, Samuel already commands a significant salary following a deal rework in 2022.
Ian Rapoport on how the 49ers view their Brandon Aiyuk situation
By David Bonilla
May 13
To say there was a lot of speculation surrounding San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk heading into the 2024 NFL Draft would be an understatement. Many believed a trade involving the team's leading receiver from last season might be in the works.
In the end, Aiyuk remained on the 49ers' roster once the draft concluded, indicating a likelihood of him staying with the team at least through the upcoming season. San Francisco remains committed to negotiating a long-term deal for the fifth-year wideout.
Last week, Ian Rapoport joined NFL Network and was asked for an update on the Aiyuk situation. The
Rookie Malik Mustapha delivers jokes about 49ers GM John Lynch
By David Bonilla
May 9
Having both played safety, rookie Malik Mustapha and San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch can relate to each other. Mustapha acknowledges the impact that Lynch and others like 49ers legend Ronnie Lott had on the game. However, admittedly, he hasn't seen a lot of their play.
This shouldn't come as a surprise. After all, Mustapha is just 21 years old. He wasn't even one year old when Lynch won his Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (OK, I feel really old now, too).
Mustapha didn't hesitate to poke fun at his new boss when asked if he has ever seen Lynch play. With a smile, he stated, "I'm gonna have to dig deep for that film, but I definitely heard good things about him. I'm hip with the John Lynches, the Ronnie Lotts of the world, things like
