Wideout Brandon Aiyuk has established himself as a key member of the 49ers’ skill-position group over the past two years in particular. He will remain with the team for at least one more season, but an agreement keeping him in place over the long term could be on the horizon. 
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San Francisco made the easy call to pick up Aiyuk’s fifth-year option last offseason, a move which locked him into a 2024 salary of $14.12MM. The 25-year-old proved that decision to be wise, setting a new career high with 1,342 yards and an average of 17.9 yards per reception this year. San Francisco is, to little surprise, interested in an extension; Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports the team is making an Aiyuk second contract a priority for this offseason (video link).
Drafted 25th overall in 2020, Aiyuk entered the league with significant expectations. He endured a spell in head coach Kyle Shanahan‘s doghouse early in his career, but his production has increased with each passing season. 2023 marked the second straight year in which he received more than 100 targets, made over 70 catches and totaled at least 1,000 yards. The Arizona State product is thus a prime candidate for a multi-year contract, though reaching agreement on one will add to the 49ers’ expenses on offense.
Fellow wideout Deebo Samuel, tight end George Kittle and running back Christian McCaffrey are each on the books through the 2025 season. That, coupled with the remaining years on quarterback Brock Purdy‘s rookie contract, will allow the 49ers to keep their current nucleus for the time being. The latter will be eligible for an extension next offseason, though, and his play to date has put him in line for a sizeable raise.
The 49ers will also need to manage increasing cap hits on Nick Bosa‘s record-breaking contract over the coming years, figures which are scheduled to jump over $20MM in 2025 and over $42MM for three years after that. Any long-term deal for Aiyuk would carve into the team’s available funds down the road and, of course, limit resources available for additions along the offensive line and in the secondary.
Still, the Arizona State alum has proven himself to be one the top up-and-coming receivers in the league, putting him in line to benefit from the position’s surging market. A sharp spike in value was seen during the 2022 offseason, and 13 receivers are now earning at least $20MM per year on their current deals. Aiyuk could become another member of that club if talks with the 49ers go smoothly this spring.