Brandon Aiyuk’s long-running contract dispute with San Francisco came to an end Thursday when the star receiver agreed to a four-year, $120 million contract extension to remain with the 49ers.
Two people familiar with the deal said the sides reached an agreement Thursday after Aiyuk missed his second straight practice despite being cleared by team doctors to participate. They spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal had not yet been announced.
According to a source, Aiyuk will receive $76 million in guarantees.
NFL Network was first to report the deal.
Aiyuk had refused to practice the entire offseason as part of a contractual “hold in” with the team because he was nursing a back injury. Coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch said he had been cleared by doctors for Wednesday’s practice, but Aiyuk still did not participate, putting him at risk of fines.
Aiyuk had requested a trade earlier in the summer, but no team Aiyuk wanted to go to was willing to give the Niners what they wanted and pay Aiyuk the salary he demanded.
But that was all settled when Aiyuk and the 49ers reached an agreement 11 days before the season opener against the New York Jets on Sept. 9.
That leaves San Francisco with one prominent player left, All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams, who remains away from the team as he searches for a new deal.
Aiyuk was set to play this season on his fifth-year option, worth about $14.1 million, but now becomes the latest receiver to cash in a long-term contract.
Eleven receivers before Aiyuk had already signed contracts worth at least $70 million this offseason, with Justin Jefferson’s four-year, $140 million extension with Minnesota leading the market. Aiyuk is the sixth receiver with an average annual contract worth at least $30 million.
Aiyuk was a key part of San Francisco’s offense last season, as he formed a great bond with quarterback Brock Purdy. Aiyuk had 75 catches and a career-high 1,375 yards with seven touchdowns last season, earning second-team All-Pro honors.
He achieved those numbers with an offense that had the second-lowest passing percentage in the NFL last season and featured several other star players, including Deebo Samuel, George Kittle and All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey.
Aiyuk’s average of 12.8 yards receiving per target was the highest mark for a player with at least 75 targets in a season since Jordy Nelson averaged 13.2 yards for Green Bay in 2011.
According to Sportradar, Purdy’s passer rating of 120.5 when targeting Aiyuk is the best of all QB-pass catcher combinations with at least 125 attempts over the past two seasons.
Aiyuk has 269 catches for 3,931 yards and 25 TDs in four seasons since being selected 25th overall in the 2020 draft. But he’s gained momentum since Purdy took over as quarterback, with eight of his 11 career 100-yard receiving games coming with Purdy as the starter.
The Niners have done a good job of rewarding their own stars, handing out mega deals to Kittle, Fred Warner, Samuel, Nick Bosa and now Aiyuk since 2020.
But the last two seasons have been particularly difficult, as Bosa only signed a few days before the season opener.
The 36-year-old Williams is paid $20.05 million this season under the six-year, $138.1 million deal he signed in 2021.
Williams’ average annual value of just over $23 million has been surpassed by five offensive linemen since he became the richest player at the position when he signed the deal. Tristan Wirfs, Penei Sewell and Christian Darrisaw all received deals this offseason worth at least $26 million per year.
“Everybody knows Trent is a captain, a Hall of Famer, the big dog of the team,” cornerback Charvarius Ward said. “Most everybody fears him. We miss him a little bit, but like I said, somebody’s got to step up as a captain to replace what’s missing with those guys that aren’t here.”