The San Francisco 49ers and wide reciever Brandon Aiyuk have reached agreement on a 4 year, 120 million dollar extention.  The extention will make the 26 year old Aiyuk tied for the 5th highest paid wide reciever in the NFL. 

This was the outcome most people, including myself, always figured was coming.  Aiyuk gets paid comparable to his skill level, and he and the 49ers get to make another run at the Super Bowl. 

To me, being the 5th highest paid wide out feels about right.  People do not realize how good Aiyuk is.  There is this weird paradox where no one on the 49ers offense is particularly good because everyone on the 49ers offense is really good.  Everyone argues that Brock Purdy isn’t actually good, it’s just his weapons but then they will say Aiyuk isn’t  a top 5 wide out, nor is Deebo, and Kittle isn’t close to a top tight end.  They will actually tell you Christian McCaffrey is great.  Aiyuk is one of the best route runners in the league, he has great hands, and is the best blocking wide out there is.  He doesn’t put up huge numbers like some other recievers because of, you guessed it, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, Jujuan Jennings, and Christian McCaffrey.  There are only so many catches, yards, and tds to go around.  The 49ers play an offense that’s designed to get guys open and throw to the open man.  It doesn’t always work, but it’s not based around getting the ball to one guy.  Not only that, but the 49ers offense is built around running the ball.  They aim for a 50/50 split between running and passing plays.  Not only does that limit Aiyuk’s possible touches, but it makes his blocking very, very valuable. 

With that said, Aiyuk was 7th in the league in receiving yards, 2nd in yards per catch, while only being 36th in targets.  He had 7 touchdowns, as did Deebo and McCaffrey, while Kittle had 6.  Again, things get spread around in the Niners offense. 

With this signing, the 49ers are now the only team in the league with 8 players making at least 15 mil this season.  They have 2 guys making 30 plus, 3 guys in the 20s, 2 guys making 19, and Kittle makes 15 mil.  Obviously, they all fit under the cap this season.  Next season may be a different story.  A bridge they, and I, will cross when we get there. 

Now that they have gotten Aiyuk out of the way, the 49ers really have to get Trent Williams signed and back in the lineup.  I’m a big Aiyuk fan, but Williams is much more important to the 49ers’ chances of succeeding.  I am not sure what the issue is with Trent.  I heard it was that he has no guaranteed money left on his deal.  Unless I am missing something, that seems like an easy fix.  Reports are that Trent is willing to sit out regular season games if he doesn’t get what he wants.  That would suck. 
The good news is that Williams is someone who can miss all the practices he wants, assuming he’s staying in shape, and not miss a beat.  He could sign on game day and be in the lineup.  Hopefully, they get it done soon. 

I don’t know why the 49ers extension negotiations are always long drawn out battles, but as usual, in the end, they got it done.