By Ben Standig, Matt Barrows and David Lombardi
NFL agents offered mixed responses when asked about one of the biggest preseason topics impacting the San Francisco 49ers: Brandon Aiyuk, the team’s top wide receiver, is in a hold-in while seeking a contract extension. He took his desire for that deal public this summer, and agents who participated in The Athletic’s sixth annual NFL agent survey were split on whether they supported Aiyuk’s position and how he’s handled his contract negotiations.
The 31 agents who participated in this year’s survey were granted anonymity to protect themselves and their clients while providing candid assessments of Aiyuk’s situation and other matters around the league.
One agent, when asked what advice they’d give clients when facing a similar matter, said Aiyuk has “handled it horribly” but acknowledged that “sometimes you must take your grievances public.”
“Silly, yes, but taking the team name or logo off social media accounts can cause a needed stir,” that agent continued.
Another agent said: “I’m a proponent of keeping negotiations quiet, but that isn’t always easy. I think (public displays) do more harm to a player than good.”
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Other agents aligned more closely with Aiyuk, with one saying, “If you have leverage, do what you want to do. You’re your own person. You can hurt the cause, but I don’t think (Aiyuk) is out of pocket with what he’s done.”
Another agent said the way the situations resolve for Aiyuk and offensive tackle Trent Williams — who is holding out as he seeks a modified contract — will be telling.
“In this case, Aiyuk is loud and Trent Williams is handling things quietly,” the agent said. “Whichever is rewarded by San Francisco is probably the strategy that good agents will employ with them moving forward.”
GO DEEPER
The Brandon Aiyuk, Trent Williams situations mark a tougher 49ers negotiating era
In the latest development in the saga, Aiyuk, 26, was not at the start of the 49ers’ practice Wednesday after coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch made it clear that the team wanted the receiver on the field.
“At some point, you’ve gotta play,” Lynch said.
The organization had previously seemed tolerant of Aiyuk’s hold-in, but with Tuesday’s roster cutdown and the team’s looming season opener against the New York Jets on Sept. 9, the 49ers are setting firm expectations regarding Aiyuk’s participation.
In an ideal scenario, the 49ers would presumably like to reach an agreement with Aiyuk on a contract a tier below the massive deals reached by receivers Justin Jefferson and CeeDee Lamb with the Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys, respectively, that fits into San Francisco’s cap picture. Lynch, however, has stated that the 49ers are willing to allow Aiyuk to play at the fifth-year option rate of $14.1 million if the sides cannot reach an agreement.
How to look at Aiyuk’s situation
Yes, Aiyuk’s public antics have been tedious for everyone involved (including the fan bases of at least five teams). But if you look at it from his perspective, you have to admit it’s been effective. After all, he’s still under contract for one more season and yet has gotten teams to bid on him as if he were a free agent. He might not end up going to the highest bidder, but his constant agitating likely has ratcheted up his asking price. — Matt Barrows, 49ers senior writer
The endgame is critical for Aiyuk, as it’ll determine whether all this agitation worked for him. If the ordeal has driven the 49ers’ offer up, will Aiyuk sign it to seal the deal? It seems both parties are entering precarious territory as the season approaches. If Aiyuk’s hold-in continues or turns into a full-scale holdout and he starts missing games, fines and lost salary will be enormous — and his value on the market when he does become a free agent might drop significantly. So there’s a lot at stake from here on out. — David Lombardi, 49ers staff writer
Required reading
(Photo: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images)
