“It’s a dirty game” - Brandon Aiyuk frustrated by leaked report detailing $26,000,000 49ers offer

It looks like we have ourselves a good old-fashioned PR battle between the San Francisco 49ers and star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.

There were multiple reports claiming that Aiyuk had requested a trade from the Niners back in April. However, Aiyuk's agent took to social media to provide some clarity on that front, dispelling those rumors saying:

"You need to get some better sources."

But Aiyuk's contract negotiations rumbled on without a conclusion in sight.

The 49ers wideout appeared on The Pivot podcast this week to talk all things 49ers (alongside Jayden Daniels, lending further credence to rumors that he might be out of San Francisco pretty soon).

On the podcast, Aiyuk vented his frustration that the 49ers' contract offer was leaked, alongside the contract he wished for.

Aiyuk said:

“It’s a little bit frustrating for actual numbers to come out. I felt like it was a little bit disrespectful and a little bit unfair to me.

"It’s a dirty game.”

UPDATE: As of July 16, 2024, Brandon Aiyuk has officially requested a trade away from the San Francisco 49ers.

Brandon Aiyuk reportedly looking at $28 million-a-year contract

According to San Francisco Chronicle's Mike Silver, Aiyuk is looking at a contract that pays out $28M a year, much like the one the Detroit Lions handed Amon-Ra St. Brown.

St. Brown signed a four-year $120 million extension with Detroit in April.

However, Silver added that the 49ers were only willing to go up to $26M a year for Aiyuk, which means the two sides are $2M apart in negotiations.

For his part, Aiyuk said that he's taking this back-and-forth over his contract personally.

Aiyuk said on the podcast:

"I have a vision for what I see myself as, and they don't see me as that. Or you do, but you don't, you can't financially do it. Whatever, whatever, whatever. I'm not sure.

"I just feel like it's no hard feelings, though. If you don't want to do it or you can't do it, I'm sorry. There's somebody that will."

That somebody could very well be the Washington Commanders.

Aiyuk has been spotted hanging out with the Commanders' new face of the franchise pretty often since Jayden Daniels went No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The 49ers star added that if he's not in a Niners uniform, he could probably see himself in a Commanders uniform with Jayden Daniels.

"If not a (Washington) Commanders' uniform, probably a (Pittsburgh) Steelers uniform," Aiyuk stated.