Brandon Aiyuk is set to stay with the San Francisco 49ers after agreeing a four-year, $120million extension with the NFL franchise.
$76m will be guaranteed for the wide receiver, who was on the verge of joining the Pittsburgh Steelers earlier in the summer.
But in the end an agreement was found, adding Aiyuk to an already expensive wage bill on the West Coast.
The offensive speedster sat out of practice on Wednesday in an effort to push through a new deal, although the team were said to be growing frustrated with his efforts to boost his paycheck.
His new deal puts him almost level with the Detroit Lions’ Amon-Ra St. Brown, who earns $120.01m in total, the fifth highest in the NFL.
Aiyuk’s average annual salary of $30m ties him up with Miami Dolphins’ receiver Tyreek Hill.
BREAKING: 49ers, WR Brandon Aiyuk agree to 4-year, $120M extension ($76M in guarantees).
(via @mikegarafolo + @rapsheet) pic.twitter.com/eRXnXZVab7— NFL (@NFL) August 29, 2024
After failing to initially come to terms with the 49ers, the 26-year-old requested a trade in July.
It looked likely he would be moved on alongside Deebo Samuel, but after the Steelers drafted Ricky Pearsall, a trade was off the cards.
Coach Kyle Shanahan will be happy to have kept hold of Aiyuk, especially after he recorded 1,342 receiving yards, 75 receptions and seven touchdowns last season.
It marked a second consecutive 1,000+ yardage campaign as the 49ers made it back to the Super Bowl.
And now that his future is cleared up, Aiyuk will be keen to go one step further this year.
