Brandon Aiyuk's prolonged contract dispute with the 49ers doesn't appear to be headed toward reconciliation, and could result in a trade before long.
Contract talks remain stalled and it seems more likely that Aiyuk will be traded than work out an extension with San Francisco, NFL Network Insiders Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero reported Monday. Multiple teams are in play for the ascending receiver, but a deal is not in place at this time, per Garafolo and Pelissero.
In order to swing a trade, a few moving parts must be addressed. First, the 49ers would have to receive adequate compensation for a wideout who recorded consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in 2022 and 2023, including a career-best 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns last season. Aiyuk would also have to agree to an extension with a new team.
Multiple unspecified teams have been granted permission to speak with Aiyuk's agent with regard to hammering out a contract extension, should a trade precede it. At this point, though, there is no deal in place with the Steelers or anyone else, regardless of reports that have circulated around the internet, according to Garafolo and Pelissero.
A trade would be ideal for Aiyuk, who is all but guaranteed to make more money elsewhere than with the 49ers. That alone makes this storyline worth continuing to track in the days and potential weeks ahead.