49ers Looking To Rookies For Returner Role
For the past two seasons, the 49ers have enjoyed the utility of veteran wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud. While only ever providing minimal use on offense with 26 catches for 378 yards and one touchdown as a receiver in San Francisco, McCloud has provided consistency as a return man. With McCloud now on the other side of the country as a Falcon, the 49ers will be looking to fill that returner role in 2024. 
For that, San Francisco will likely look to two members of its rookie class. First-round wide receiver Ricky Pearsall and fourth-round wideout Jacob Cowing both have gotten early looks as returners.
An experienced punt returner for the Gators during his two seasons in Gainesville, Pearsall has the requisite experience to step into the role. As a fifth-year senior, he averaged 11.5 yards per return. His only kickoff return, though, came in his true freshman season with the Sun Devils in 2019. Pearsall’s allure during the draft process was his ability to play all over the offense and on special teams. Per ESPN’s Nick Wagoner, San Francisco has worked him out all over the field with the intention that he will be able to step in anywhere in case of injury.
Cowing had about the same number of returns as Pearsall in college during his two seasons at Arizona but failed to produce the same results. Still, Matt Barrows of The Athletic pegs him as the likelier candidate for a return job. Cowing is faster than McCloud was and a bit bigger, as well. His skillset with screens and end arounds would make him an ideal injury replacement for Deebo Samuel, as well.
The team still has second-year receiver Ronnie Bell, who was second on the team with 10 punt returns last year, and Samuel returned only four fewer kickoffs than McCloud in 2023. Still, Pearsall and Cowing may offer a bigger upside than Bell while allowing Samuel to remain on the sideline during special teams.
49ers Interested In Extending CB Charvarius Ward
Brandon Aiyuk (by a wide margin) has generated the most rumors among the 49ers’ contract-year players, but the team has several talented cogs unsigned for 2025. Dre Greenlaw, Talanoa Hufanga and Charvarius Ward are among them.
This raises the stakes for San Francisco in 2024, with a Brock Purdy megadeal on the team’s radar for next year. Hufanga is in the final year of a rookie deal, while Greenlaw and Ward are in walk years after signing short-term deals earlier this decade. Greenlaw has rehab to complete after his historically ill-timed Achilles tear. Also missing the 49ers’ offseason program, Ward is recovering from a core muscle surgery he had put off for years.
Ward, 28, is interested in re-signing with the 49ers; the feeling looks to be mutual. Among the NFC champions’ walk-year players, Aiyuk profiles as the top priority. But Ward is not too far behind, per ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner. The former Chiefs starter is going into the final season of a three-year, $40.5MM contract. Kyle Shanahan mentioned earlier this offseason Ward was a player the team was interested in keeping.
Originally a Cowboys UDFA traded straight up for guard Parker Ehinger in 2018, Ward became one of the many Steve Spagnuolo-era Chiefs corners whom the team did not pay. Ward joins Marcus Peters in earning All-Pro acclaim (second team) post-Kansas City, having ascended to that level last season. Ward’s 71.8 passer rating allowed as the closest defender ranked 14 among CB regulars, and he added five INTs and an NFL-most 23 pass breakups.
This year’s free agency featured a host of corners seeking third contracts. Kendall Fuller, Chidobe Awuzie, Sean Murphy-Bunting and Adoree’ Jackson headlined that list. Although Awuzie did well and Murphy-Bunting — whose situation differed due to his second contract spanning one year — fared decently on his Cardinals pact, Fuller’s market underwhelmed and Jackson is unsigned. Ward has played on a higher level, but should he hit free agency next year, teams will be assessing his value ahead of an age-29 season. That number matters less with wide receivers, who have regularly secured third-contract windfalls, but it means a bit more for corners.
With Purdy and Aiyuk on the extension radar, the 49ers will probably bid farewell to multiple starting defenders after this season. Hufanga could reestablish his value as a top-tier safety following his ACL rehab, as he was a first-team All-Pro himself in 2022. Greenlaw, who is unlikely to be ready for Week 1, also faces a pivotal platform year due to the injury he sustained. Going into his age-25 season, No. 2 corner Deommodore Lenoir also looms as an interesting piece. A quality year would make him a coveted 2025 free agent, with his age factoring into a 49ers puzzle that will undoubtedly include an internal debate on how much longer Ward’s prime will last.
While Aiyuk is going through extension talks at a position that has seen its market soar, Jaire Alexander‘s $21MM AAV has remained the top CB salary for two years. Patrick Surtain and Sauce Gardner figure to change that, but as of now, corners are falling well behind receivers. Ward will nevertheless make an effort to secure a big-ticket third contract soon.
Checking In On Unresolved WR Situations
Wide receiver rumors continue to dominate the NFL’s post-minicamp quiet period. The shift atop the receiver market this offseason has complicated matters for other teams, while multiple clubs are also dealing with players attached to upper-middle-class accords.
With training camps less than a month away, here is a look at where the unresolved wideout situations stand:
Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers
This situation that has generated the most offseason rumors at the position; the 49ers-Aiyuk negotiations have dragged on for months. Progress has been scarce here, to the point Aiyuk requested a meeting to address his value and issues with the 49ers’ tactics during these talks. The Vikings’ Justin Jefferson extension has affected these conversations, with Aiyuk’s camp now seeking a full guarantee near the number ($88.7MM) the Minnesota superstar scored. AAV-wise, Aiyuk’s camp has been connected to pursuing a deal that matches or surpasses the $30.01MM number the Lions reached for Amon-Ra St. Brown. Aiyuk did not show for OTAs or minicamp.
Aiyuk, 26, is due a $14.12MM fifth-year option salary. His next step would be to hold out, risking $50K in per-day fines. The 49ers could waive them, as they did for Nick Bosa, since Aiyuk is on a rookie contract. That separates this situation from a few others here, and it is certainly possible the sides do not come together on a deal. Aiyuk not bringing down his guarantee request would run the risk of that happening.
While Aiyuk expects to be a 49er for a fifth season, the value gulf here — one partially created by the big-ticket deals other WRs have agreed to this offseason — threatens to prevent this situation from concluding smoothly like Deebo Samuel‘s did in 2022. The 49ers guaranteed Samuel $41MM at signing, illustrating how far the team and Aiyuk may be apart. Conversely, an agreement here — with the 49ers preparing for a Brock Purdy payday and having drafted Ricky Pearsall in Round 1 — would point to a 2025 Samuel trade. The 49ers discussed trades involving both their top wideouts, but John Lynch shut down those rumors post-draft.
Amari Cooper, Browns
The two-year Browns contributor joined Aiyuk in skipping minicamp, having seen his Cowboys-constructed contract fall in the pecking order (from second to 20th) due to the market booms of 2022 and 2024. Cooper signed a five-year deal, as the Cowboys prefer longer-term accords, in 2020 and missed out on cashing in as the market soared during the contract’s lifespan. Having played the lead role for a depleted Browns offense during an 11-6 2023 season, Cooper is aiming to score another payday ahead of his age-30 season.
Browns GM Andrew Berry identified Cooper as an extension candidate earlier this offseason, and Kevin Stefanski acknowledged talks have taken place. The Browns certainly had to assume they would be dealing with Cooper on the contract front once they gave trade pickup Jerry Jeudy a $41MM guarantee at signing (sixth among WRs). The ex-Bronco has yet to post a 1,000-yard season. Cooper has seven, though last season marked the older Alabama alum’s first 1,200-yard year.
With Deshaun Watson in Year 3 of a $230MM guaranteed extension, the Browns feature an unusual roster component. If Cooper were to hold out, the Browns would be unable to waive his $50K-per-day fines due to the 2015 first-rounder not being on a rookie contract.
As it stands, Cooper is tied to a $23.78MM cap number. Cleveland could reduce that with an extension, but Cooper’s age offers a slight complication. This does not appear an acrimonious dispute, and the sides are hoping for a pre-training camp resolution.
Tee Higgins, Bengals
This matter appears simpler, as Higgins has signed his $21.82MM franchise tender. Unlike Jessie Bates two years ago, Higgins is obligated to attend camp. The other eight players to receive a franchise or transition tag have signed extensions, each doing so several weeks ago. The Bengals have shown no indications they plan to extend their No. 2 wide receiver before the July 15 deadline, and while Higgins requested a trade, he has acknowledged he expects to remain in Cincinnati for the 2024 season. A trade could occur after the tag deadline, but the Bengals are highly unlikely — after resisting trade interest at the 2023 trade deadline — to move Higgins this year.
The Bengals and Higgins have discussed an extension for more than a year, and a modest offer — well south of $20MM per year — prompted the 6-foot-4 receiver to play out his fourth season. Gunning to dethrone the Chiefs and finish a mission they nearly accomplished in Super Bowl LVI, the Bengals tagged Higgins and are preparing to run back their standout receiver pair for a fourth year. If/once Higgins is tied to the tag this season, the sides cannot restart talks until January 2025. It is unclear if the Bengals would consider re-tagging Higgins next year, but the early word leans against this reality.
Joe Burrow‘s cap number spikes by $17MM between 2024 and 2025, moving past $46MM next year, and the Bengals have a receiver extension earmarked for Ja’Marr Chase. Though, Chase talks will be interesting after Jefferson’s guarantee figures surfaced.
Tyreek Hill, Dolphins
This is a rather unusual situation, but one that reminds of another Dolphins matter from recent years. Hill is tied to a four-year, $120MM extension; that deal runs through 2026. But the future Hall of Famer is already seeking a new contract. Teams rarely accommodate players with three years of team control remaining, due to the precedent it sets, but Hill has shown himself to be one of the top receivers of this era. He has delivered back-to-back first-team All-Pro offerings and has made a significant difference in Tua Tagovailoa‘s development. The Dolphins have not shut Hill down on this matter.
Hill, 30, is believed to have approached the Dolphins about an update before the St. Brown, Jefferson and A.J. Brown deals came to pass, but those contracts intensified the ninth-year veteran’s pursuit. Rather than a push for more guarantees on his current contract, Hill confirmed he is seeking a new deal. Teams are not big on giving back years to players, the Texans’ unusual move to lop three years off Stefon Diggs‘ contract notwithstanding, and agreeing on another extension — with customary guarantees — so soon would make for one of the more interesting decisions in this key chapter in WR history.
Dolphins GM Chris Grier has set a precedent on this front, giving in to Xavien Howard‘s demands for a new contract in 2022 despite being tied to a deal that covered three more seasons. The Dolphins have given Jaylen Waddle a big-ticket extension, one that is structured in a more player-friendly way than Hill’s backloaded $30MM-AAV pact. Signing deals that at the time broke the receiver AAV record, Hill and Davante Adams allowed their respective teams to insert phony final-year salaries — which almost definitely will not be paid out — to inflate the overall value.
No trade rumors have emerged here, as Hill wants to stay in Miami for his career’s remainder. Though, it will be interesting to see what comes out of these talks if the Dolphins decline Hill’s request this year. Hill is attached to a $31.23MM cap number.
CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys
The Vikings’ decision to authorize outlier guarantees for Jefferson probably affects the Cowboys most, as Lamb is also a 2020 first-round draftee who has shown himself to be one of the NFL’s best receivers. Lamb, 25, has been the centerpiece of the Cowboys’ passing attack since the team traded Amari Cooper — for salary purposes — in 2022. He is coming off a first-team All-Pro season — the first by a Dallas wideout since Dez Bryant in 2014 — and is tied to a $17.99MM fifth-year option figure. If Lamb does not land a new deal by training camp, he is prepared to follow Zack Martin‘s lead and hold out.
Dormant during the spring, Lamb extension talks are expected to pick up this summer. The Oklahoma alum’s interest in becoming the NFL’s highest-paid wideout veered toward shakier ground for the Cowboys following this offseason’s run of deals. The Cowboys not going through with a Lamb extension last year has certainly cost them, as Lamb’s camp has Jefferson’s guarantees to cite now. Dallas has not guaranteed a receiver more than $40MM at signing and typically holds the line on contracts spanning at least five years. Based on where the WR market has gone in terms of contract length, Lamb’s camp will likely make this a central issue in the sides’ negotiations.
Dallas not pushing this process past the goal line in 2023 has also created a situation in which Lamb and Dak Prescott are in contract years, a window that has opened just as Micah Parsons has become extension-eligible. The Cowboys are expected to first address their quarterback’s deal, which could be a tricky proposition due to Prescott’s tactics during his long-running extension talks earlier this decade, but a Lamb pact coming together by training camp is still in play. The Cowboys’ glut of extension candidates has created one of the more complicated contract situations in recent NFL history.
Courtland Sutton, Broncos
Checking in on a lower tier compared to the above-referenced receiver situations, Sutton continues to push for an update to his Denver deal. The Broncos have their top wide receiver attached to a four-year, $60MM extension that runs through 2025. Although just about every Broncos contract matter is overshadowed by the team’s Russell Wilson mistake, the team did well to lock down Sutton at what became a club-friendly rate during the 2021 season. After Sutton scored 10 touchdowns to help Wilson bounce back — to a degree, at least — in 2023, he has made an effort to secure better terms.
Sutton, 28, is believed to be angling for a raise from his $13MM 2024 base salary. The seventh-year target has been connected to seeking a bump to around $16MM. The Broncos did resolve a Chris Harris impasse by authorizing a raise, but the All-Decade CB was a better player who was in a contract year. Sutton reported to Denver’s minicamp but has not committed to showing up for training camp. Last month, the sides were at a stalemate. Tied to a $17.39MM cap number, Sutton would not be able to recoup any fines for a holdout due to being on a veteran contract.
Trade interest emerged during the draft, and the former second-round pick has regularly resided in departure rumors over the past two years. The Broncos cut the cord on fellow trade-rumor mainstay Jerry Jeudy, which stands to make Sutton more important as the team develops Bo Nix. Though, the Broncos have added a few wideouts on Sean Payton‘s watch. If younger players like Marvin Mims and fourth-round rookie Troy Franklin show promise, it is possible the Broncos revisit Sutton trade talks. Up until Week 1, only $2MM of Sutton’s base salary is guaranteed.
Meeting Does Not Bridge Value Gap Between 49ers, Brandon Aiyuk
Justin Jefferson rumors circulated before his mammoth extension, and CeeDee Lamb has been tied to a holdout threat. But Brandon Aiyuk has been the offseason headline champion at his position, with his 49ers talks coming up frequently.
Aiyuk requested (and received) a meeting with 49ers brass. After the fifth-year wide receiver lobbed a comment indicating the 49ers do not want him back, the team — as has long been reported — confirmed during the summit it does indeed envision a future with Aiyuk. The two-time 1,000-yard pass catcher conceded, as Tee Higgins did weeks ago, he does not expect to be traded this year.
The recent Aiyuk-49ers meeting may end up catalyzing an extension, but it has not generated movement yet. The parties are not progressing on a deal in the wake of the summit, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo notes (h/t 49ersWebZone.com). This refrain continues, as a lack of development in these talks led to Aiyuk skipping OTAs and then incurring a $102K fine for not attending minicamp.
Aiyuk’s camp has referenced Amon-Ra St. Brown‘s $30.01MM-per-year deal as an AAV comp, and a guarantee figure that approaches Jefferson’s position-record-shattering $88.7MM number came up regarding locked-in compensation. Aiyuk has not shown himself to be in the Vikings superstar’s class, and St. Brown — albeit on more targets — has submitted better numbers. Aiyuk’s 3,931 career receiving yards rank 17th since 2020, further complicating extension talks for a player who resides on a team with an elite skill-position corps dependent on spreading targets around.
Considering no non-Vikings team has authorized a WR contract that includes more than $53MM fully guaranteed, it would be surprising if the 49ers caved to Aiyuk’s push at guarantees in Jefferson territory. AAV-wise, the team may be seeking something closer to where the Eagles went for DeVonta Smith ($25MM per year) than a deal that hits St. Brown’s $30MM-per-annum number.
No trade request has come, separating Aiyuk’s situation from Deebo Samuel‘s 2022 offseason. But a training camp holdout could be the next step, if the 2020 first-rounder is up to it. Aiyuk must be fined $50K per each training camp day missed, though the 49ers would have the option of waiving the fines — as they did for Nick Bosa — due to the standout receiver being on a rookie contract. Aiyuk, 26, is due a $14.12MM fifth-year option salary.
San Francisco’s leading receiver (by a wide margin) last season, Aiyuk can use the 49ers’ cap-space figure against them in his negotiations. Without any Aiyuk money or a Brock Purdy payment factoring into the equation, the 49ers are projected to be more than $38MM over the cap in 2025. A receiver franchise tag would cost more than $22MM next year. Unless the 49ers would be keen on letting Aiyuk simply walk in free agency if they are unable to extend him in 2024, they would need to clear enough space to apply the tag. That process, with Charvarius Ward also unsigned for 2025, would be tricky.
The 49ers still want Aiyuk around long term, to the point Samuel exit rumors have emerged after draft-weekend trade talks. This year, the reigning NFC champions are planning to keep their long-running WR duo intact, with first-rounder Ricky Pearsall in place as a developmental option for a future in which — in the most likely scenario — one of the starters departs in 2025.
NFC Front Office Updates: White, 49ers, Seahawks
The Commanders recently announced all the updates to their personnel and football support staff that the team has made this offseason. We’ve already covered nearly all of the updates as they occurred throughout the past few months, but we finally got confirmation of a rumor we’d seen back in May. We saw the writing on the wall before, but Chris White has officially been announced as a member of the Commanders scouting staff, according to the team announcement.
White comes from Chicago, where he recently served as assistant director of pro scouting before being removed from the team’s website a month ago. He had served in the role for two years, getting promoted after five seasons as a pro scout for the Bears.
As predicted, White will be serving in Washington as director of pro scouting. He’s essentially filling the role left vacant by former director of pro personnel Chris Polian, who made his way to Cleveland to work as an advisor under Browns general manager Andrew Berry.
Here are a couple other updates from around the NFC:
- The 49ers are bringing on Jordan Fox to work as a player personnel analyst in 2024, according to Neil Stratton of SucceedinFootball.com. Fox debuted in the NFL as a seasonal personnel operations intern for the Jets in 2022. After two years with New York, Fox earns his first full-time NFL position in San Francisco.
- Up the coast, the division-rival Seahawks are granting a first full-time NFL position, as well. Per Stratton, the team’s player personnel intern, Azzaam Kapadia, has officially been promoted to the full-time player personnel assistant role. Kapadia interned with the Colts at one point in time and worked part-time as a film analyst for the Browns during the 2022 season.
Commanders, Steelers Were Contenders For WR Brandon Aiyuk
The month of June has been full of news pertaining to the strained contract negotiations between wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and the 49ers. As things currently stand, it appears that a trade is no longer expected separate the two parties, but negotiations seem to be at a standstill as both sides refuse to cede ground on price. While most all signs are still pointing to Aiyuk playing for San Francisco in 2024, he did mention two other teams whose uniforms he could see himself in should negotiations fall through over the summer.
In his appearance on The Pivot Podcast (video link), Aiyuk was asked what uniform he sees himself playing in next season. “If I were to take a guess, probably a Niner uniform,” he answered. “Probably a Niner uniform. If not a Niners uniform, probably a Washington Commanders uniform. If not a Washington Commanders uniform, probably a Steelers uniform.”
Aiyuk would be a phenomenal addition to either squad. In D.C., the second-team All-Pro wideout would join Terry McLaurin atop the depth chart as Jahan Dotson would return to a WR3 role. Aiyuk would be a massive upgrade over last year’s WR2, Curtis Samuel. Currently, without Aiyuk, Washington has Dotson bumping up to WR2 in his third season as Dyami Brown, Olamide Zaccheus, and Jamison Crowder attempt to hold off third-round rookie Luke McCaffrey for the WR3 job.
Aiyuk would also be an interesting addition to the Commanders due to his history with No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels. The rookie out of LSU transferred to Baton Rouge after three years at Arizona State. Daniels’ freshman season in Tempe aligned with Aiyuk’s senior year with the Sun Devils. Working together on offense, Aiyuk led the team with 65 catches for 1,192 yards and eight touchdowns. Reuniting the two could be a huge safety blanket for Daniels as he makes the jump to professional play.
It’s been no secret that the Steelers are looking for veteran wide receiver help after sending Diontae Johnson to Carolina. The team currently rosters budding star George Pickens and Van Jefferson, who impressed in 2021 with an 800-yard, six-touchdown season but has faltered in the two seasons since. Pittsburgh also selected Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson in the third round of this year’s draft and are holding out hope that third-year wideout Calvin Austin will blossom soon.
Still adding Aiyuk to the roster in Pittsburgh would be huge for new quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. The Steelers showed early interest in acquiring Aiyuk’s teammate, Deebo Samuel, back around the time of the draft, but should Aiyuk come up in an offer, it’s hard to imagine they would turn him away.
When all is said and done, it’s still widely expected that Aiyuk will remain in the Bay Area for at least next season. The two sides continue to work towards a common goal, but the 49ers seem to be employing similar tactics as they did when extending Samuel two years ago. If that road continues, a new Aiyuk deal could be coming around the end of July, like Samuel’s did. Should things fall through, though, it sounds like Aiyuk is open to a change of scenery.
Brandon Aiyuk Addresses 49ers Extension Talks
The future of Brandon Aiyuk remains a key storyline for the 49ers in particular and the NFL in general this offseason. The contract-year wideout recently reconnected with San Francisco to discuss a deal, but an agreement still does not seem imminent at this point. 
During this week’s summit, it was confirmed Aiyuk is not seeking a trade; likewise, the 49ers remain steadfast that (after receiving trade calls during the draft) a move sending the 26-year-old out of the Bay Area is not under consideration. In spite of the relatively positive nature of the meeting, Aiyuk’s most recent comments on his situation confirm plenty of progress still needs to be made for a long-term deal to be reached.
“Throughout this process, there have been times when we’re super close,” the Arizona State alum said during an appearance on The Pivot Podcast (video link). “I’m telling my agent ‘Let me get my suit ready, I’ve got to get it back to the Bay. I got to get right to sign that contract.’ [But] there’s days and times, like in the past month or so, where you could say we’re pretty far apart.”
Value is known to be the primary issue in this case, with the 49ers not being willing to meet Aiyuk’s asking price. Two years ago, we watched new contracts for such stars as Cooper Kupp, Davante Adams, and Tyreek Hill reset the wide receiver market. That offseason, the 49ers were dealing with the extension of Aiyuk’s teammate, Deebo Samuel. Despite having just completed a first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl season, Samuel’s contract negotiations were similarly contentious, with Samuel requesting a trade and eventually staging a “hold-in,” attending training camp while participating as little as possible without getting fined.
Despite watching Hill, Adams, Kupp, and fellow “hold-in” D.K. Metcalf all reach new, market-setting deals before Samuel eventually inked his new contract, San Francisco was able to sign Samuel to a much lower rate whenever the veteran finally put pen to paper on his second deal. Samuel’s contract was only three years and trailed all the above players to rank eighth in the NFL at the time in annual average value at $23.85MM. That figure was only slightly below Metcalf’s ($24MM) but was far below the deals reached by Kupp ($26.7MM), Adams ($28MM), and Hill ($30MM). The 49ers were able to make up for that by granting Samuel a guaranteed amount of $41MM, compared to guarantees of Metcalf ($31MM), Kupp ($35MM), and Adams ($22.75MM).
Once again, this offseason, the 49ers have been patient during a contentious contract negotiation. While taking their time to extend to Aiyuk, they have seen new contracts for Nico Collins, DeVonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle, Amon-Ra St. Brown, A.J. Brown, and Justin Jefferson continue to reset the wide receiver market. If they wait much longer, they may also watch the Bengals set the top marks even higher with a new deal for Ja’Marr Chase.
While the number of big money extensions should, in theory, make deflating the figures on a new Aiyuk deal harder to justify, the 49ers have been here before. They’ve pushed a star wideout to the brink and eventually signed him to a below-market deal. It stands to reason that similar front office tactics are the cause for the divide in asking price between the two parties today.
Aiyuk believes, after a second-team All-Pro season, that he’s done enough to be among the top-paid players at his position, while it seems like the 49ers are looking to repeat their actions from two years ago, undercutting Aiyuk’s contract length and value and perhaps making up for it by delivering a higher level of guarantees. That path doesn’t come without its own challenges, though, as Jefferson and Brown set the bar high with guaranteed amounts of $88.74MM and $51MM, respectively.
Perhaps a negotiation tactic used in the crafting of Samuel’s deal, the 49ers have informed Aiyuk that they just aren’t able to get up to his asking price. Perhaps having seen Samuel go through this same process, Aiyuk has some unique insight into the team’s tactics. For now, he’s standing firm and refusing to give ground on his perceived value.
“They told me that they didn’t think that we were on the same page and that they didn’t believe that we were going to,” Aiyuk added in his recent podcast appearance. “And that was about it at that time. But it’s part of it. It’s part of the contract negotiations, trying to sway stuff in either direction. So whether that’s 100 percent true or not, I guess that’s still to find out.”
Ely Allen contributed to this post.
Latest On 49ers’ RB Situation
Christian McCaffrey is set to continue as the focal point of the 49ers’ attack (as well as the standard-bearer for running back contracts) for the foreseeable future. Dialing down his workload is a team goal for 2024, though, and a number of other options exist to meet it. 
McCaffrey’s 81% offensive snap share the led the league amongst running backs in 2023, and on three occasions last season he took the field for every offensive snap. The 28-year-old’s success both on the ground and in the passing game helped him earn Offensive Player of the Year honors along with a lucrative extension, but reducing his wear and tear is a reasonable concern from the 49ers’ perspective. Head coach Kyle Shanahan recently spoke about San Francisco’s backfield approach moving forward.
“We have guys that can run the ball,” Shanahan said, via The Athletic’s David Lombardi (subscription required). “We have to protect Christian from himself. He doesn’t like to ever come out no matter what the situation is and I do think that’s something we could protect him with more… [I]f he’s just taking the wear and tear with 20 carries and stuff every game – and he’s definitely good enough to do that and he has proved he can stay healthy – but you’d like to take some of that off of him and give it to other guys also.”
The 49ers have both Elijah Mitchell and Jordan Mason in place as experienced backup options, although injuries have been an issue for the former. Mitchell has been limited to 16 games and only 120 carries across the past two seasons, and like Mason he is a pending free agent. The fact both backs could depart in 2025 played a role in San Francisco’s decision to add rookies to the mix this spring.
That process included the selection of Isaac Guerendo in the fourth round of the draft. The Louisville product showcased high-end speed during his college career, one in which saw sparse usage between 2018-22 at Wisconsin. That lack of mileage could prove to be a benefit if he manages to carve out an offensive role early on with the 49ers. For now, though, Lombardi’s colleague Matt Barrows notes Guerendo’s likeliest path to playing time during his rookie season is as a kick returner.
San Francisco has benefited from McCaffrey remaining healthy during his time with the team so far, and with a contract tying him to the Bay Area through 2027 team and player will aim to avoid a recurrence of his Panthers-era injuries. It will be interesting to see how much the 49ers’ other backs are used this season with the aim of lessening McCaffrey’s burden in mind.
49ers, Brandon Aiyuk Complete Productive Meeting; No Trade Expected
Brandon Aiyuk indeed received the meeting he sought with 49ers brass. While it is not yet known which parties from the team took part in the summit with the disgruntled wide receiver, this situation seems in a more stable place coming out of it.
The sides had a “good” meeting Monday, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero, who adds Aiyuk has not submitted a trade request. Trade calls have come in, but Pelissero notes the 49ers have shut them down. The 49ers resolved their Deebo Samuel impasse — one that did involve a trade request — with an extension during training camp, and they hope to finish the Aiyuk saga in similar fashion.
Despite Aiyuk’s recent social media comments intimating the 49ers did not want him back, the team has repeatedly insisted otherwise. That is still the case, with Pelissero adding the 49ers have Aiyuk in their 2024 plans. The former first-round pick is going into a fifth-year option season; an extension would remove the option number ($14.12MM) from the equation. Numbers here have been tricky, however.
This offseason’s movement on the WR market has influenced Aiyuk’s camp, which has been connected to targeting a deal north of Amon-Ra St. Brown‘s four-year, $120.01MM Lions extension. In terms of guarantees, Aiyuk has been tied to seeking a number well past $80MM. Only two wideouts — Justin Jefferson ($110MM) and A.J. Brown ($84MM) — have secured guarantees beyond the $80MM point. With Samuel receiving $58.2MM (on a three-year extension) in 2022, Aiyuk’s reported ask probably exceeds where the 49ers are comfortable going.
Aiyuk, 26, was believed to be upset with the 49ers’ negotiating tactics, with ESPN’s Ryan Clark indicating he has taken them personally. This meeting seems to have helped on this front, though no deal is imminent. The 49ers have regularly operated on this timeline with their Kyle Shanahan-era standouts, having extended Samuel, George Kittle and Nick Bosa during camp. Samuel staged a hold-in to start the 49ers’ 2022 training camp, returning to work after signing a three-year, $71.55MM extension. If Aiyuk signs a deal, rumblings about Samuel relocating in 2025 have surfaced. Both Samuel and Aiyuk came up in trade talks during the draft; John Lynch said that topic is closed.
For now, though, the 49ers look to be aiming to run it back — as the Bengals plan to — with their formidable receiver duo. The 49ers would have the option of franchise-tagging Aiyuk in 2025, but it would take some cap maneuvering — as the defending NFC champions are projected to be more than $38MM over the 2025 salary ceiling — for that to happen. The 49ers also have Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir in contract years, with Kittle, Samuel and Brock Purdy up after the ’25 season. With the organization already planning a top-market Purdy payday, sacrifices will need to be made elsewhere.
Aiyuk led the 49ers in receiving by a wide margin in 2023, amassing 1,342 yards. Since coming into the NFL in 2020, however, the San Francisco receiver ranks 17th in receiving yardage. It is understandable the 49ers are hesitant about a contract that approaches the top of the market. CeeDee Lamb and Tyreek Hill, the latter having already expressed an issue with a deal he signed in 2022, could further affect the market’s upper reaches. It does not appear the 49ers view Aiyuk in this class, leading to several reports depicting a lack of progress.
The sides still have some time before camp, and Aiyuk would face fines of $50K per day — though, the 49ers could waive these due to the WR being on a rookie deal — by skipping camp as Bosa did.
Josh Dobbs Ahead Of Brandon Allen For 49ers’ Backup QB Spot?
The top of the 49ers’ quarterback depth chart is set with Brock Purdy. San Francisco will not have Sam Darnold in place as his backup in 2024, however, creating a vacancy for the QB2 role. 
Darnold spent last season with the 49ers, and his performance under Kyle Shanahan was sufficient to get him at least a short-term starting opportunity. The former No. 3 pick inked a one-year, $10MM deal with the Vikings in free agency and he will enter training camp ahead of first-round rookie J.J. McCarthy on the depth chart. San Francisco has two competitors to fill Darnold’s role.
One is Josh Dobbs, who joined the 49ers in March on a one-year contract. The journeyman will earn $2.25MM guaranteed and he has the potential to receive an additional $750K in roster bonuses. He is joined by Brandon Allen, who spent the 2023 campaign in San Francisco following a three-year run with the Bengals. Allen inked a one-year deal worth just over $2MM prior to the start of free agency.
While plenty is yet to be decided at this point in the offseason, Matt Barrows of The Athletic writes Dobbs is currently in the lead for the backup gig (subscription required). The 29-year-old found himself on the Browns last summer before he was dealt to the Cardinals. An eight-game run filling in for Kyler Murray as a starter was followed by a trade to the Vikings, a team which used him for four starts after Kirk Cousins‘ Achilles tear. Dobbs has 14 starts and 21 appearances to his name in the NFL.
Allen, 31, has logged nine starts (five of which came with the Bengals in 2020) and 15 total games during his tenure. As Barrows notes, he could have a greater chance of clearing waivers at the end of training camp than Dobbs, something of particular importance if San Francisco elects to carry two passers on the active roster. Teams will be allowed to make unlimited practice squad elevations for emergency third quarterbacks in 2024, so whichever passer is relegated to third-string duties will still likely dress on gamedays. As things stand, Allen is likelier than Dobbs to be in that position.