Brandon Aiyuk (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is still locked in extension talks with the NFC outfit.

The wideout isn’t looking to force a trade but has reportedly made it clear that he wants to start at a specific place.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (H/T ProFootballTalk), Aiyuk is looking for a contract higher than the one the Detroit Lions handed Amon-Ra St. Brown this offseason.

It’s understood that Aiyuk wants to reach “that number or higher” in his new deal with the Niners, so he’s essentially looking for a deal worth around $28-30 million per year.

St. Brown signed a four-year $120 million extension with the Lions in May following an All-Pro season. Aiyuk also had a career year in 2023, registering 1,342 receiving yards and earning a second-team All-Pro nod.

However, he hasn’t made the Pro Bowl.

Still, some fans reckon San Francisco should pay him and move on.

“St. Brown gets a ton more targets than Aiyuk due to the Lions throwing much more than the 49ers. Aiyuk is the team’s #1 receiver so pay him and be done with it,” one wrote.

“As he should, he is much better than him,” said another. “As a devoted 49ers fan, pay him or move on at least so everyone can start preparing for the season properly. What we are doing is just hurting the team just like when it took ages to pay Bosa and it took a season for him to get going.”

Also Read: Brandon Aiyuk Trade Rumors Heat Up After Young NFL Quarterback Reveals It’s His “Dream” To Play With The 49ers’ Star Wideout

Brandon Aiyuk Is Giving The 49ers A Headache

The 49ers can’t afford to let their leading wide receiver leave for nothing; offering him a satisfactory deal would be in their best interest.

On the flip side, they don’t have that much wiggle room. According to OverTheCap.com, they have less than $7 million in cap space and are already wanting for 2025.

It is quite a quandary, but they will need to solve it sooner rather than later.