There still isn’t a resolution to the Brandon Aiyuk contract negotiations with the San Francisco 49ers.
Prolonged contract talks and trade rumors have led us to ponder what this year’s 49ers club would look like without the All-Pro wide receiver lining up across from Deebo Samuel. Given the injury situation, things look potentially grim in the world where Aiyuk isn’t suiting up in red and gold this season.
While that speculation is happening, Samuel told Kay Adams he isn’t worried about what the team would look like without Aiyuk.
Adams, who hosts the show ‘Up and Adams’ on FanDuel TV interviewed Samuel at the team’s facility on Friday and asked him if they could win the Super Bowl without Aiyuk.
“I think BA’s gonna be a part of this team,” Samuel said. “So we don’t have to worry about that.”
For 49ers fans looking for crumbs of optimism about Aiyuk staying with the 49ers, this is the third thing to come out Friday that indicates the trade possibility is further away than ever.
Samuel’s optimism is likely founded in discussions about the situation with Aiyuk, who was out at practice all week. Aiyuk also ran sprints during Friday’s practice after general manager John Lynch went on KNBR radio in the Bay Area and talked about the urgency the team is feeling to get him signed.
Of course, Samuel isn’t involved in the negotiations. However, it’s notable that he didn’t dance around the question or give a non-answer. He was as straightforward as possible that he thought Aiyuk would be with the 49ers this season.
If he is, they have a real chance to overcome the dreaded Super Bowl hangover to make a rare Super Bowl run a year after losing it. If he isn’t, their chances dwindle significantly. The latter is scary, but apparently irrelevant.
