In August of 2024, Brandon Aiyuk agreed to a four-year extension with the San Francisco 49ers worth $120 million, ($76 million fully guaranteed), making him one of the NFL’s highest-paid wide receivers.
His new compensation has placed him among that of elite WRs, as his contract currently ranks sixth in total value at the position, per Over the Cap. He ranks eighth in annual salary ($30 million per year). Since inking that deal, he has appeared in just seven games, and it remains to be seen when he’ll return to action in 2025.
Aiyuk suffered a severe knee injury mid-way through his 2024 campaign, tearing both his ACL and MCL Week 7. With his recent injury and contract figured in, Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox named Aiyuk’s as one of the NFL’s “worst contracts.” Aiyuk was ranked No. 7 out of 10 on the list.
More on Why San Francisco 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk’s Contract Is Among Worst in NFL
“To be fair, the San Francisco 49ers probably lament this deal more because Aiyuk suffered a significant knee injury months after signing it. His recovery from a torn ACL and MCL could extend well into the 2025 season,” Knox wrote on June 12, adding:
“With all due respect to Auyuk, he’s not the NFL’s eighth-best wideout. He showed that by failing to live up to his contract, when healthy, this past season. Aiyuk had just 374 yards and no touchdowns in seven games. Making this deal even worse is the fact that the 49ers don’t have a clean out until 2027, when they can eat $21.2 million in dead money to save $20.2 million in cap space.”
Aiyuk inked his extension following tense contract negotiations. He had held out of training camp and publicly expressed frustration, even hinting he’d prefer to be traded if his terms weren’t met. The drawn-out saga culminated with San Francisco signing him to a new mega deal, but it wasn’t a smooth process by any means.
In the seven games he has played since signing his new deal, the Niners WR has hauled in 25 passes for 374 yards and hasn’t caught a touchdown. His knee injury is unfortunate, to be sure, but catching 25 passes and no TDs in seven games isn’t worthy of that type of deal, so he wasn’t playing that well even before he tore ligaments in his knee.
A Look Back at Aiyuk’s Time With the Niners Thus Far
Aiyuk was selected in the first round by the 49ers in 2020 (25th overall) and immediately made an impact. His rookie year, he posted 60 catches for 748 yards and five touchdowns, also adding two rushing TDs.
In 2022 and 2023, Aiyuk surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in both seasons (78 catches for 1,015 yards in 2022 and 75 catches for 1,342 yards and seven scores in 2023). His consistency and explosiveness—he has averaged over 14 yards per catch over his five-year career—cemented his status as one of San Francisco’s most reliable offensive options.
According to Pro Football Focus, he ranked among the top 10 WRs in run blocking, and in the top three in yards per route run the season prior to his injury.
As for when he return from his knee injury, that remains up in the air. Aiyuk was present at the team’s mandatory minicamp in June, but he’s still in the rehabilitation process.
“He is making his way back,” 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said on June 10. “He’s still in the middle of it, so he’s working through that. He’s been around, he’s been rehabbing for the most part, but he’s been out to some practices. It was good to have him out today.”
