Aiyuk’s personal trainer says the receiver doesn’t want to leave the 49ers originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
There’s not much to be said from either side as the 49ers and Brandon Aiyuk continue negotiations over a contract extension, but Aiyuk’s people wide receiver coach TJ Houshmandzadeh provided some insight into the current situation.
Houshmandzadeh joined 95.7 The Game’s “Willard and Dibs” on Monday morning to discuss Aiyuk’s future in the Bayand from his point of view, how things can happen.
“I talked to BA. He doesn’t want to leave San Francisco,” Houshmandzadeh said. “He just wants to get paid. Very simple. He wants to be rewarded for the work he’s done. And the casual fan, I don’t think they understand, to be a professional athlete, you get paid very well, and I would be crazy if I didn’t say that , but man, the kind of work you have to do, day after day, ‘Oh, I would do that if I was making that much money.’ Go train with a professional athlete for a week. Do this for a week and let me know if you feel the same way.
“It’s a lot of hard work physically and it’s harder mentally, because on those days you don’t want to do anything, you still have to do it and you’re going to push yourself every day. .I can’t go anymore.’ Uh, yes, you will continue. And that’s exactly what you do.”
After sixth-year pro Calvin Ridley signed a four-year, $92 million contract with the Tennessee Titans last month, Houshmandzadeh was asked how much Aiyuk would be worth if Ridley was paid $23 million.
Ridley’s response? Twenty-seven million.
“Now it’s the cost of doing business in the National Football League. That’s what it is,” Houshmandzadeh said. “The salary cap goes up, player salaries go up. That’s exactly it. So when you have good players, and John Lynch, pat yourself on the back, Kyle Shanahan, pat yourself on the back. You guys have done a really good job recruiting , most of the time, you recruit good players.
“That’s how it works. You’d rather sign good players and have to pay them than sign players and have to fire them.”
Houshmandzadeh also defended the fact that Aiyuk is 31st in the NFL in receptions because “he doesn’t catch as many targets as other guys” like Justin Jefferson or Tyreek Hill.
He even made a counterargument, suggesting that Aiyuk may be 31st in receptions, but not 31st in yards.
While Houshmandzadeh believes $27 million seems fair to Aiyuk, he clarified that he did not discuss specific numbers with Aiyuk, but added that he does not think Aiyuk would turn down that price.
The 25-year-old is scheduled to earn $14.1 million during the 2024 NFL season on the fifth-year option. He is eligible for unrestricted free agency at the end of the season.
With the NFL draft set to begin on Thursday, any potential moves would likely come after the first round. If no moves are made by then, it would likely signal that Aiyuk would remain in San Francisco until at least next season.
That outcome seems more likely to Houshmandzadeh, who is confident both sides will resolve the issue.
“Man, winners win. And the 49ers showed with John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan that that’s what they do,” Houshmandzadeh said. “They’re going to figure out a way to make it work. Rarely do you see teams trade young players before their second contract. Typically, the front office hopes to sign young players to a second contract. Why? Because it shows they’re doing a great job acquiring guys through the draft. They’re not built through free agency, they’re building through the draft.
“…They’re eager to reward the guys who have priced it right and are now ready for a second deal. Then they’ll figure out a way to make it work. At least I believe they will. But the longer you wait, more animosity can start to creep up on the player, because you feel, ‘Damn, you guys don’t really value me like I thought you did.’ “
If the 49ers make it past the draft without trading Aiyuk, would he be open to playing their fifth pick in San Francisco?
“No,” Houshmandzadeh said and repeated it five times.
If they somehow trade Aiyuk and acquire a potential replacement through the draft, Houshmandzadeh would wish San Francisco the best of luck.
“It’s a good receiver draft, for sure. I will say this,” he said. “But are you willing to roll the dice and hope that the player you draft can be what BA is? You’re hoping. You don’t know.”
There is not much time to find a solution that makes all sides happy, but at the end of the day, a decision must be made, and Houshmandzadeh has no doubt that Aiyuk will continue to play for the team that saw his potential four years ago.
