Richard Sherman doesn't foresee fairytale ending in Brandon Aiyuk-49ers debacle - "We knew this point would come"
The Brandon Aiyuk saga for the San Francisco 49ers has been dragging along throughout the NFL offseason. After a lot of back and forth, the team is open to trade the wide receiver and has given Aiyuk the permisison to negotiate contract with other interested teams. However, Richard Sherman doesn't forsee a happy ending to this debacle.
Speaking on his eponymous podcast, the former 49ers cornerback explained that this saga was a "weird situation" because both the parties have had success with in their realtionship. Sherman added that Aiyuk has done everything that's expected out of a first-round receiver and is coming off his most productive NFL season.
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"You can’t be mad at him if you’re the 49ers and if you’re him, you can’t really be mad at the 49ers [because] they gave you a legitimate chance on a championship-contending team for your entire career," Sherman said. “It has been a magnificent career so far, but it just doesn’t seem like it’s going to have that happy ending. It’s going to have one of those endings that just leaves a bad taste in everybody’s mouth."
Sherman continued, explaining that it was neither Aiyuk nor 49ers' fault. He added that while the 49ers have done everything in their power to keep this team together, it will not be a happy ending with Aiyuk, if they part ways.
"At the end of the day, we knew this point would come for the San Francisco 49ers. You can’t pay everyone, and you’ve already paid Nick Bosa, Deebo Samuel, Christian McCaffrey again, you paid George Kittle … they’ve done everything."
Richard Sherman cautions Brandon Aiyuk over downside of 49ers exit
The New England Patriots, who were very much interested in Brandon Aiyuk, have bowed out of the race. The 49ers WR has reportedly no interest in heading to New England.
Richard Sherman believes that if Aiyuk leaves the 49ers, the WR will get the contract he's looking for, a reported $30 million a year deal. But that would mean Aiyuk will be in a less competitive environment and the team might not have the championship structure he had with the 49ers.
"If he leaves he likely gets the most money he could possibly get he likely gets the $30 million that he's seeking. He gets treated like a true number one receiver. He gets targeted that way, gets game planned that way. He gets all the claim that comes with being a number one receiver."
Sherman continued:
"But it's likely a less competitive team. It's a less competitive quarterback situation. It's a less competitive offensive structure and stability in terms of just having a championship culture that you're used to."
As things currently stand, the Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers are the two teams interested in Brandon Aiyuk.