Disgruntled San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk officially requests trade

After failing to make progress on contract extension talks with the 49ers, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has officially requested a trade from the team that drafted him in the first round in 2020. The 1,000-yard receiver for the Super Bowl-contending 49ers is entering the final year of his rookie contract. According to Mike Garafolo, San Francisco met with Aiyuk recently, however, the team hasn’t discussed a potential contract extension since May, which is why he is now looking for his out.

The star wide receiver did not show up to mandatory minicamp and he might not be at training camp if things don’t improve. 49ers report date for rookies is July 16, but for veterans it’s July 23.

In a video posted on his TikTok this offseason, Aiyuk told rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, “they don’t want me back,” referring to the 49ers. Contacting his former Arizona State teammate was innocent enough, but it certainly got social media talking and signaled the direction the relationship was going in last month.

As a former first-round pick, Aiyuk had a fifth-year option on his rookie deal, which the 49ers opted to exercise instead of working out a long-term deal last year. Now, he’s slated to play for $14.124 million this season, well below market value.

Over the course of four years, Aiyuk has 269 catches, 3,931 yards, 25 touchdowns and 14.6 yards per catch. He set a career-high 1,342 yards last season, helping the 49ers reach the Super Bowl.

Aiyuk’s situation ‘part of the business’

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan had little to say regarding the star’s absence this offseason. The coach told reporters he looks forward to “focusing on football.”

“(I feel the) same as I do about all these guys that aren’t here. I mean, I wish they were here, but it’s something that’s part of the business,” Shanahan said. “Anytime it’s the business part, you try to respect it, stay out of it as much as possible. I look forward to the days when we just focus on football.”

Aiyuk has been one of several top wide receivers trying to put pressure on their teams to commit to a big payday. The Cowboys practiced without CeeDee Lamb this summer, and that holdout could continue into training camp if he doesn’t get an extension soon. The Vikings were working without Justin Jefferson, until they signed him to a historic deal for $140 million that makes him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league. Bengals receiver Tee Higgins also held out, however, he appears set to play on the team’s franchise tag after failing to agree to a long-term deal.