After falling just short in the Super Bowl, the San Francisco 49ers are enduring a contract saga with star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, which didn’t improve during the team’s recent minicamp.
Mr. Aiyuk didn’t participate in the mandatory camp, which ran June 4–6. The team won’t regroup again until July for training camp, and whether or not Mr. Aiyuk will rejoin the team remains unknown.
“Yeah, it happens. We’ve seen it with quarterbacks. You’re seeing it right now with wideouts. It’s happened with D-linemen. It’s just part of it,” Mr. Shanahan told the media on June 4.
While Mr. Aiyuk isn’t on the same level of dominance as Mr. Jefferson, he has been a dangerous receiver throughout his four-year career. Mr. Aiyuk tallied 269 receptions for 3,931 yards and 25 touchdowns in that span, and he became a favorite target of quarterback Brock Purdy.
“Yeah, I think it’s extremely important. He is a playmaker. Love throwing to him. Love B.A. as a person,” Mr. Purdy told reporters on May 21. “So yeah, it’s definitely important. Like I’ve said this before, it’s out of my control. But for me, I’m showing up every day trying to get better with the new guys and the guys that are here and that is what it is. But hopefully, it gets settled soon.”
The NFL hands out fines for players missing mandatory minicamp per the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement, but it’s change compared to the massive contract a player such as Mr. Aiyuk can ask for. In addition, Mr. Aiyuk’s holdout won’t put him on bad terms with Mr. Shanahan or the team as far as the coach is concerned.
“No, to me, it doesn’t change at all. You find out when guys are in those situations, whether they come or not,” Mr. Shanahan said. “Some guys come because they want to avoid a fine, and some don’t. But regardless, it doesn’t change anything when those guys have come. We know what the process is, we know what the business part is, and that’s just how they decide how they want to handle this week.”
It’s a business side that Mr. Shanahan has a minor hand in, but that’s ultimately up to front office personnel. Mr. Shanahan likewise didn’t offer any tip on where negotiations are trending with Mr. Aiyuk.
“I do to a certain time, and then I kind of check out of it. When I don’t have as much to do, players aren’t in the building, it’s kind of hard not to just check in and ask how it’s going,” Mr. Shanahan said. “But there’s not that many updates. That stuff takes time and everything, but now, especially with guys in practices, minicamp, it’s stuff I don’t ask about at all.”
The 49ers at least made a significant addition at receiver during the offseason when the team took Ricky Pearsall with the No. 31 pick in the NFL Draft out of Florida. Mr. Pearsall improved his final three seasons between Arizona State and Florida as he finished his five-year collegiate career with 156 receptions for 965 yards and 14 touchdowns—13 of which came in his final three seasons. Mr. Shanahan likes the connection Mr. Purdy has developed with Mr. Pearsall.
“It’s been fun to watch both of them,” Mr. Shanahan said. “I know Brock doesn’t always get to watch how the route gets there, but he knows when guys end up in the right spot and they catch it. That’s where quarterbacks get comfortable and I think he can fill that with Ricky right away. I mean, he’s been getting to the right spot and when he has made mistakes, he understands it and corrects it. I think that’s why those guys are gonna have a lot of fun working together.”
Mr. Pearsall will complement 49ers star wide receiver Deebo Samuel and Mr. Aiyuk, if he signs a contract extension. The 49ers also locked up wide receiver Jauan Jennings with a two-year, $15.39 million contract.
“I think everyone knows how much we love Jauan,” Mr. Shanahan said. “Just his style of play, his personality. Him in the building and the way he plays on the field is just the example of everything you want. So he’s been great for us here so far. Pumped that he’s gonna be around here a little bit longer.”
Whether or not Mr. Aiyuk will also be around longer remains unknown for the defending NFC champions.
