3x Super Bowl champ believes Brandon Aiyuk doesn't deserve Top 10 WR money - "Doesn't make sense to me"
There is no player in the NFL more frustrated with his contract than Brandon Aiyuk. The San Francisco 49ers wide receiver is seeking a new deal and is not practicing in the training camp. Aiyuk recently requested a trade from the 49ers after not being satisfied with the team's improved offer since May.
However, three-time Super Bowl Champion Mark Schlereth believes that Aiyuk is not worth a top 10 wide receiver contract. Speaking on The Rich Eisen Show, he pointed out Aiyuk's role and importance in the 49ers offense as the primary reason. [From 00:35 mark onwards]
"When I talk to defensive coordinators, what do they tell me?," Schlereth said. "All right, the first guy we got to take away is Christian McCaffrey. Then we got to take away Deebo Samuel... you're going down to George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk."
"When you sit there and say, 'Is he Justin Jefferson, or is he Davante Adams? or is he one of these true number one guys?' Well, on his own team, he's the third or fourth target."
Aiyuk is reportedly seeking a deal around the $30 million AAV ballpark. He is coming off his best year for the 49ers. During the 2023 NFL season, Aiyuk recorded 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns in 75 receptions, averaging 17.9 yards per catch.
Schlereth added:
"I don't look at him as the top weapon on his own team. So how are you going to make that guy a top five or 10 paid wide receiver? I just don't? That doesn't make sense to me."
Mark Schlereth believes Brandon Aiyuk's coach carries more pressure heading into the season
The San Francisco 49ers have been on the cusp of Super Bowl victories twice in the last five years, once with Jimmy Garoppolo in 2020 and once with Brock Purdy, earlier this year. They've been to the NFC Championship game in four out of the last five years.
Despite the success, the 49ers have not been able to get over the hump in crucial moments and their time is running out. Mark Schlereth, speaking on 95.7 The Game, said that Kyle Shanahan is under high pressure heading into the season.
"I think a ton of pressures on Kyle [Shanahan] and they have had, you know, arguably the best roster in football last couple of years. And haven't been able to come away with it with a victory."
Schelreth added that while there's plenty of blame to go around, Shanahan has to own it and get his players prepared and ready to go.
The 49ers will take on the Tennessee Titans in their first preseason game, on August 10, 2024.