San Francisco 49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk has been the center of trade rumors throughout this offseason. The wide receiver has been struggling to reach common ground about the extension of his contract with the franchise. Aiyuk will enter his rookie contract’s fifth year and will get $14.1 million in the upcoming season, but the WR expects a long-term solution and an upgrade in salary.

With a tight salary cap space, San Fransisco hasn’t been able to reach a consensus with their player. As rumors of trade fly rampant, general manager John Lynch rubbished the rumors in a recent media appearance. He related his exchange with the Steelers head coach, Mike Tomlin, where the GM was asked about the Aiyuk’s trade rumors. Lynch promised “nothing’s going on,” hinting at the team’s intention of retaining their WR. Whereas the 49ers have expressed the team’s desire to continue with Aiyuk, the WR himself had a less certain outlook on the matter.

Brandon Aiyuk wants what he “deserves”

On the Nightcap podcast, Aiyuk was asked about his trade rumors in the light of Lynch’s statement. While he initially had a tight-lipped answer that his representatives are “trying to get work done,” the wide reciever eventually opened up about his take on the situation.

“I’m trying to get what I deserve,” Aiyuk frankly affirmed. The 2020 draft pick shared that he feels he has gained ample experience in the league and proved himself last season, both on and off the field. “This season playing football, I figured out who I was as a person, as a player, what I bring to the table, what I bring to the locker room, what I bring to- the organization”

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Aiyuk further emphasized the merit he holds in the franchise. The Super Bowl player further feels the need to set the right precedent for the people who look up to him. “People gonna follow me because I done it the right way since I have been in that building.” Aiyuk also stressed that if the organization doesn’t recognize his contribution to the team, he gestured that he is willing to walk out. As the WR’s future in San Francisco remains uncertain, rumors of him being interested in moving to Pittsburgh have cropped up.

Can Aiyuk join the Pittsburgh Steelers?

Aiyuk ended his conversation about the contract situation, voicing his hopes that “professionals working on both sides” will reach a mutual agreement so he can “continue playing professional football.” The primary point of conflict is his contract, which the wide receiver wishes to upgrade, putting the 49ers in a fix, given their tight cap space. However, Aiyuk’s recent cryptic post on X might be a hint towards his new inclination towards the Steelers.

A joke went viral online about how Aiyuk resembles the Steelers’ HC, Mike Tomlin. The WR responded to the post by tagging Tomlin and pointing out how the two are being called “twins.” The 49ers star’s post sent ripples across the internet and had fans speculating for two reasons.

The first obvious factor is the prevalent trade rumors, while secondly, fans’ observation that it was Aiyuk’s first tweet since April 2023 added fuel to the fire. Aiyuk’s tweet reached the right ears as Tomlin addressed the viral tweet at a recent NFL meeting. He light-heartedly commented that he has “heard a lot of that recently,” as per SI, without divulging any further details.

Aiyuk proved his mettle last season with 75 catches, 1342 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns. The 25th overall pick of 2020 has made it clear that he intends to receive a contract worth his efforts. Whether the 49ers will be able to accommodate their talented wide receiver or not is yet to be seen.

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