San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk signed a massive contract extension right before the start of the regular season. With Aiyuk tearing his ACL and MCL in the 49ers’ Week 7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, we review his contract and what it means for the 49ers moving forward.
Brandon Aiyuk’s Contract Details
Aiyuk signed a four-year, $120 million contract extension in September. He’s one of six wide receivers making $30 million per year annually.
The deal includes $76 million guaranteed, including $45 million guaranteed at signing (his $23 million signing bonus + his 2024 salary + $20.875 million of his 2025 salary). In terms of total guaranteed money, Aiyuk is tied for the sixth-most among WRs with Jaylen Waddle.
Here’s a breakdown of Aiyuk’s salary cap numbers over the remainder of his contract. As a reminder, the deal doesn’t kick in until next season:
- 2025: $11.2 million
- 2026: $16.2 million
- 2027: $44.3 million
- 2028: $44.2 million
The first year the 49ers can save money by cutting Aiyuk would be after the 2027 season when his dead cap hit would drop to $9.2 million.
Obviously, it’s a little early to consider moving on from Aiyuk, even after his disappointing 2024 campaign came to a premature end. He was carted off in Week 7 with a knee injury, which was confirmed to be a torn ACL and MCL the following day.
Kyle Shanahan has confirmed Brandon Aiyuk has suffered a season-ending ACL and MCL tear.
Prayers up for BA 🙏❤️ #IGYB pic.twitter.com/YlDOFqEQYR
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 21, 2024
Regardless, San Francisco will likely be back at the negotiating table one way or another come 2027. An extension would make sense if Aiyuk is performing at a high level to bring down that monstrous $44.3 million cap figure.
Unfortunately, the year before the extension will go down as a wash for both parties. Aiyuk posted just 25 receptions for 374 yards and no touchdowns, all career-lows. Even on a per-game basis, his 53.4 receiving yards per game were the second-fewest of his career, and his 53.2% catch rate was a career-low.
The protracted will-they-or-won’t-they holdout and trade rumors likely played a role in Aiyuk’s disappointing season. Now the 49ers will hope that his recovery goes smoothly and does not severely impact his 2025 season as well.
