Being an elite at your place doesn’t essentially imply {that a} participant will discover a place within the squad. If anybody within the league is aware of about that, it’s Brandon Aiyuk, who will not be budging from his stance to be one of many highest-paid receivers within the league. His rookie contract lately received over and now, he’s extra like a gun for rent, keen to match his caliber with their cash.
However Deebo Samuel was in the identical scenario as Aiyuk when his rookie contract ended. The Niners did resolve to present him a 3-year, $71.5 million extension that runs by means of the 2025 season. However issues are nonetheless shaky between Samuel and the San Francisco 49ers as a result of there have been current rumors about him being doubtlessly traded. Amidst this, will Aiyuk attain the identical place and scenario that Samuel at the moment holds?
Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel are crusing in the identical boat!
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The hosts of NFL Dwell had a debate about Brandon Aiyuk’s destiny with the 49ers. On paper, Brandon Aiyuk had fewer receptions (75) than different prolific receivers like CeeDee Lamb (135), Tyreek Hill (119), and even Amon-Ra St. Brown (119). Nonetheless, he’s ranked no. 1 in first-down receptions (60%) out of each QB-receiver duo within the league.
He actually appears to be pushing the Niners down the enemy yards, regardless of what his reception stats say. The identical could be stated about his 13.3 yards per try working with Purdy as his QB. Whereas his numbers are promising, Aiyuk’s assertion about “They don’t want me back,” noticed some rationalization on the Pivot Podcast with Ryan Clark.
The WR is asking for the $30 million a 12 months remedy and felt harm when his staff undermined him. Ryan Clark reiterated Aiyuk’s phrases on his podcast, “Look where I line up and look who’s guarding me,” and later added the WR saying, “I beat one-on-one coverage and I beat the best man on the other side of the field.”
Regardless of Aiyuk being focused much less, he got here out with a 1,342-yard season with 7 touchdowns as a consequence of his excessive YPA. The WR informed Ryan Clark that, “If I’m not in San Francisco, I’m comfortable being somewhere else.” This reminded Jeff Darlington of the present of similarities in Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk’s tenure with the Niners. To not point out how quintessential Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk had been to their staff, main them to a Tremendous Bowl.
“This feels like a carbon copy of what we went through with Deebo Samuels not very long ago,” stated Darlington on NFL Dwell. “He [Deebo Samuel] told me that I want to be traded and there was no qualms about it. It felt very personal to him, he did not feel like he was getting along very well with the front office or Kyle Shanahan. They eventually did figure it out.”
The incident that Jeff Darlington spoke about occurred round April 2022, which was the tip of Samuel’s rookie contract. However issues modified and the 49ers gave in.
Will the “carbon copy” scenario have a contented ending?
Two years in the past, Deebo Samuel felt uncomfortable with the 49ers and informed Darlington that he was looking for a commerce. The receiver remained cryptic about his causes, however the need to depart the 49ers was sturdy. The 2021 season resulting in this incident was one of the best one in all his profession the place he had 1,405 yards whereas including 6 touchdowns to the 49ers’ offense.
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Nonetheless, after Samuel expressed his disappointment, the San Francisco staff determined to present him a 3-year $71.5 million extension for the 2022-2025 season. This 12 months, Deebo Samuel is making a base wage of $20.9 million together with a signing bonus of $4.8 million and $661k as a roster bonus. This base wage quantity goes right down to $16.6 million, however the signing bonus quantity stays the identical.
However right here’s the catch-22 about Deebo Samuel’s contract: Although it runs by means of the 2025 season, the 49ers can nonetheless commerce him after the upcoming season, once more main him to an unsure future. The receiver later confirmed that the rumors had been true however he’s targeted on enjoying soccer and letting his agent deal with the talks.
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“Yeah, I heard [the trade rumors],” Samuel stated. “Had a conversation with my agent about it. They was going back and forth with whoever it was. It was a thing at first, but we done moved past it. So we here, and we here to get better.”
This sounds extra like a ruse. They provide him a contract that permits the staff to commerce him and never fulfill their finish of the discount. What if the identical factor occurs to Brandon Aiyuk, who might need the choice of a franchise tag obtainable to him quickly?