Looks like the San Francisco 49ers might be in for a rough ride trying to keep their star receiver, Brandon Aiyuk. Despite offering a hefty $26 million per year, the Niners can’t seem to lock him down, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Mike Silver.

Now, let’s be real – $26 million ain’t pocket change, but in the wild world of the NFL, it’s not exactly Justin Jefferson territory either. Jefferson’s bag just set the record with an eye-watering $35 million AAV, and Aiyuk knows his worth. Silver dropped the scoop on KNBR’s “Papa and Lund” show, saying, “Their offer is in the $26 million range, which certainly is not Justin Jefferson money, nor should it be, but it’s closer to that DeVonta Smith, Amon-Ra St. Brown, that next tier down.”

Athletes are always eyeing those bigger bucks, using past deals to jack up their own value. The market’s been sizzling hot, with guys like A.J. Brown($32 million AAV), Amon-Ra St. Brown($30 million), and Jaylen Waddle($28.3 million) all cashing in majorly this offseason. Even DeVonta Smith at $25 million is in the mix, just a smidge under Aiyuk’s offer.

Aiyuk’s playing it smart, riding out the franchise tag at $14.1 million and keeping his options open for a juicier deal. Word on the street is he’s got his eyes set on St. Brown’s four-year, $120 million payday as his benchmark. And guess what? 49ers wide receiver coach, ex-NFL wideout T.J. Houshmandzadeh, thinks Aiyuk would jump at that offer. “The 49ers believe he’s a very good player, one of the better receivers in the league,” Silver said. “But they think he’s really good, and really good right now, those numbers are eye-popping.”

Financial tightrope: 49ers juggle contracts

The plot thickens with Deebo Samuel’s contract hanging over their heads. Samuel’s pulling in $23.9 million AAV and still has two years left on his deal. The 49ers toyed with the idea of trading him before the draft but decided to stick it out, snagging first-round receiver Ricky Pearsall from Florida as a future insurance policy.

San Francisco’s financial juggling act is in full swing, with mega-deals for Christian McCaffrey, Trent Williams, and Fred Warner already on the books. And let’s not forget, QB Brock Purdy is due for his big payday soon too.

Silver threw in his two cents, predicting some tough choices ahead: “I do think the 49ers are of the mindset that in today’s NFL, paying one receiver – or let alone two – at premium prices in their overall model, once you have to pay the quarterback, which they will with Purdy, isn’t necessarily the smartest way to go.”

With the 49ersfacing a cash crunch and the draft stock brimming with talent, Aiyuk’s future in the Bay is looking more uncertain by the day. Buckle up, Niners fans – this ride’s about to get bumpy!