Brandon Aiyuk had himself quite the summer. He didn’t have to work, demanded a trade, held out and after all that … he finally got paid.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Thursday evening that the Niners and Aiyuk agreed to front-loaded four-year extension that will pay the wide receiver $120 million. That’s up from the $14 million he would have been due to make this season.
And when Rapoport said that the contract was front loaded, he wasn’t kidding. According to the NFL Network reporter, Aiyuk’s deal will pay him $47 million between now and when the next league year starts on April 1, 2025. Typically, we see teams lean towards back-loading contracts. That clearly didn’t happen here.
More details: Brandon Aiyuk will receive $47M between now and April 1, 2025. Massive. https://t.co/IDdn3JtmJu
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 29, 2024
With that massive deal reached, Aiyuk will end his holdout in time for the Niners’ season opener against the Jets.
Fans were also especially surprised about how that contract was structured.
This was how Twitter/X reacted
Wow this truly is a front-loaded contract the likes the 49ers haven’t ever really done in this regime. It will help them massively down the line as this team has to morph and transform in the coming years to a new core. Aiyuk will be part of it. https://t.co/sAaWv8HfKY
— #1 Kittle Fan (@kittlefacts) August 29, 2024
No more double shifts at Applebee’s for Brandon https://t.co/wRazXuHNhd
— LockettUp (@LockettUp2021) August 29, 2024
$47m for 1 year!?!?!? https://t.co/jCzlRYMUo3
— TwoOneFits (@TwoOneFits) August 29, 2024
47 million year 1 is crazy https://t.co/T5HibFtexd
— A (@JacobCowlng) August 29, 2024
Holyyyyyy cowwww https://t.co/wNXUgyiv13
— Daniel Salib (@salibdaniel1) August 29, 2024
Wait what lmao https://t.co/2lNPSVly8o
— Alex 👋 (@Dubs408) August 29, 2024
Something tells me they just needed to work the details out. https://t.co/9tXLPb19iV
— JD (@ThatdamnDeuce63) August 29, 2024
That will put Aiyuk’s year one cash at least third it appears, we’ll have to see what’s paid out in new year one behind April 1. https://t.co/wNXUgyiv13 pic.twitter.com/XZgNn8Ousc
— Daniel Salib (@salibdaniel1) August 29, 2024