If not 49ers, Brandon Aiyuk sees himself with Commanders, Steelers

Brandon Aiyuk has spoken out.

There is no sign of a contract agreement, but Aiyuk revealed he envisions returning to the 49ers, who drafted him in the 2020 first round and led him in rushing with over 1,000 yards receiving each of the past two seasons .

“If I had to guess, probably a Niner uniform (in 2024). Possibly a Niner uniform,” Aiyuk said on The Pivot Podcast, which was released Friday and was recorded ahead of a Monday meeting he held with 49ers executives. “If it’s not the Niners’ uniform, it’s probably the Washington Commander’s uniform. If not the Washington Commanders’ uniform, then probably the Steelers’ uniform.”

The 49ers’ legacy – coach Kyle Shanahan, general manager John Lynch and owner Jed York – has remained intact all offseason and is expected to retain Aiyuk. He recently claimed the opposite in a TikTok video, but, in the hour-long podcast, he focused on the attention generated by his often-cryptic social media posts this offseason.

“We’re starting to get our own footage, recording everything, just enjoying the process,” Aiyuk said. “Just ask my lady to record everything that’s happening so I can look back on it, because it’s an exciting time. It’s stressful, but also exciting. “I want to keep these memories.”

ESPN’s Ryan Clark, who co-hosts The Pivot podcast with fellow NFL alumni Channing Crowder and Fred Taylor, questioned Aiyuk’s claim that the 49ers don’t want him back.

“He told me he didn’t think we were on the same page and he didn’t believe we were going to do it,” Aiyuk said. “And that was the thing at that time. But that’s part of it. This is part of contract negotiations, trying to move things in any direction. So whether this is 100% true or not, I guess that’s still to be found out.

The 49ers report to training camp on July 23. If Aiyuk does not report, he could be fined $50,000 a day. Skipping mandatory minicamp could cost him $100,000. A year earlier, Nick Bosa did not report to training camp and had his penalty waived upon signing the largest contract for a non-quarterback, a deal struck just days before the season opener in the then-N.F.L. For Defensive Player of the Year. ,

Although the 49ers have rewarded a homegrown player with a market-setting contract extension each of the past four summers, Aiyuk has proven more eager to get a deal. And he has been the most skeptical publicly that it may not happen.

“During the process, there were times when we were very close, where I would say to people and my agent, ‘Let me design my suit. I’m heading back to the bay. “I have to be right to sign this contract,” Aiyuk recalled. “At times over the past month, you could tell we were pretty far apart.”

Neither the 49ers nor Aiyuk’s agent Ryan Williams have publicly provided any details about the negotiations, although veteran NFL reporter Mike Silver told KNBR 680-AM earlier this month that the 49ers paid Aiyuk a yearly contract of approximately $26 million was offered. Aiyuk is under contract through 2024 at a salary of $14.1 million with the option for the fifth year of his rookie deal.

“For the actual statistics and things to come out, I thought it was a little disrespectful and unfair to me,” Aiyuk said. “But that’s a part of it. It’s a dirty game.”

Aiyuk said that at one point this offseason he would be on the phone with his agent for two hours, who would then talk with the 49ers for an hour, before Minnesota entered the wide receiver market with big deals like $35 million. Let there be an explosion. Annual extension for Justin Jefferson.

“The market changed. “The market is what it is,” Aiyuk said. “… We haven’t really agreed this whole time.”

Here are other highlights from the podcast:

On this offseason spotlight

“I’m having fun. For the last four years, I kind of left this guy, or this guy, or this guy behind and just did what I had to do. Now I’m in a position where I wake up in the morning I turn on the TV and they’re talking about me; I come on the phone and they’re talking about me. My mom called and said they’re talking about me at work.

“I am enjoying the process. It’s time for me, before the season starts, to get paid and maximize my value and show who I am as a player. Right now it’s about one thing. … Social media is a way for me and my team to leverage what I’m trying to accomplish. “It’s a way to get the message and facts out to people.”

at its future value

“I have so much more to give. When you talk about social media and there I think what can I do with that. If the Niners don’t want me back, I know what I can do.”

on money motivation

“It’s definitely heavy. For me, playing football didn’t start with money. Money was only what I saw on the way. First round draft pick, it fell into my lap. The situation we’re in right now fell into my lap. I want a team to see me and value me as a top receiver so I can continue to do what I do.

“… I want them to say, ‘We overpaid this guy,’ then I turn back and, ‘No.’ ,

Aiyuk said it’s “not my job” to consider how much the 49ers’ other stars are making. “I’m worried about myself right now. I don’t know about the financial situation, what’s going on with this person or that person. …If you can’t afford a Lamborghini, you can’t have one.”

taking it personally

“Shouldn’t you do this? I’m taking it personally. I have a vision for how I see myself and you don’t see me that way, or you do and can’t do it financially. It’s okay if you don’t want to or can’t do it, though. I’m sure there is someone who will do that.

“We’re not doing a hometown discount.”

on the impact of the system

“I am a true ‘X’ (split end). People say ‘system’, I’m in Kyle Shanahan’s system now. But if you see any of my catches, I am beating the players in front of me. I’m beating man coverage to get my reception. I’m not settling in the zone – or, maybe ever – but I’m not running down the field on crossing routes or shallow crosses. I’m beating the guys in front of me to get the football. Yeah, I can sit in the zone all day, run high crosses all day, beat people all day. I’m not going to say that I can go crazy over any crime, because there are some that don’t deserve any.

On their top-5 receivers

His top five NFL receivers of all-time, in the order they are listed: Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Jerry Rice, Antonio Brown, Julio Jones.

at mother martha’s wish

“She loves it. Just the colors, the team itself. She was a huge fan and to see her son accomplish things in the same colors that she screamed about when I was little, it’s great. . . ..She’s on my side right now. She’s trying to make sure her son is straight.”

On the influence of Trent Williams

“He’s my dog. I don’t like to talk too much about ‘big brother,’ but he taught me a lot of things. There were times my sophomore year, I was in the doghouse and I was in the parking lot with a blackout and Was ready to go crazy. ‘Trust me, leave it alone, keep your head on straight,’ he tells me. He’s a one-of-a-kind player. He’s someone I admire a lot and someone I want to be like in the future.”

on quarterback brock purdy

“He and (Jaden Daniels), it’s, ‘I’m not going to say much, I’m going to show you what I’m about.’ People can feel the confidence, the energy, the preparation. You can feel it’s real and the talent is real. I can’t say enough about that guy.

on the receiver market

“I think when you negotiate contracts, it’s similar to the (NFL Draft) where it’s determined. There are only a few places left where I can fall. I hope we can reach an agreement, as I have done since the end of the season in February.