Former Arizona State WR Brandon Aiyuk reportedly agrees to extension, ending dispute with 49ers

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Brandon Aiyuk’s long contract dispute with San Francisco came to an end Thursday when the star receiver agreed on a four-year, $120 million contract extension to stay with the 49ers.

Two people familiar with the deal says the sides came to the agreement Thursday after the former Arizona State wide receiver missed his second straight practice despite being cleared by team doctors to participate. They spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal hadn’t been announced.

The former Sun Devil will get $76 million in guarantees, according to one of the people.

NFL Network first reported the agreement.

Aiyuk had refused to practice all offseason as part of a contract “hold in” with the team, saying he had a back injury. Coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch said he was cleared by doctors before Wednesday’s practice but Aiyuk still didn’t join, risking possible fines.

Aiyuk had requested a trade earlier in the summer but no team that Aiyuk wanted to go to was willing to give the Niners what they wanted and pay Aiyuk the salary he sought.

But that was all settled when Aiyuk and the 49ers came to an agreement 11 days before the season opener against the New York Jets on Sept. 9.

That leaves San Francisco with one remaining prominent hold out with All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams still staying away from the team as he seeks a new deal.

Aiyuk had been set to play on the fifth-year option worth about $14.1 million this season but now becomes the latest receiver to cash in with a long-term deal.

Eleven receivers before Aiyuk had signed contracts worth at least $70 million already this offseason, with Justin Jefferson’s four-year, $140 million extension with Minnesota setting the top of the market. Aiyuk is the sixth receiver with an average annual contract of at least $30 million.

Aiyuk had been a key part of San Francisco’s offense last season as he formed a great connection with quarterback Brock Purdy. Aiyuk had 75 catches and a career-high 1,375 yards last season with seven touchdowns as he earned second-team All-Pro honors.

He put up those numbers on an offense that passed at the second-lowest rate in the NFL last season and had several other star playmakers such as Deebo Samuel, George Kittle and All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey.

Aiyuk’s 12.8 average yards receiving per target were the highest mark for any player with at least 75 targets in a season since Jordy Nelson averaged 13.2 for Green Bay in 2011.

Purdy’s 120.5 passer rating when targeting Aiyuk ranks the best of any QB-pass catcher combination with at least 125 attempts over the past two seasons, according to Sportradar.

Aiyuk has 269 catches for 3,931 yards and 25 TDs in four seasons since being drafted 25th overall in 2020 but has taken off since Purdy became quarterback, with eight of his 11 100-yard receiving games in his career coming with Purdy as starter.

The Niners have done a good job rewarding their homegrown stars, handing out megadeals to Kittle, Fred Warner, Samuel, Nick Bosa and now Aiyuk since 2020.

But the past two proved particularly tough with Bosa not signing his deal until a few days before the opener last season.