The 49ers apparently haven’t been willing to negotiate with Brandon Aiyuk about a new contract since May. That was part of the reported reason Aiyuk requested a trade in mid-July. However, his trade request could further delay San Francisco’s willingness to come to the negotiating table.
This isn’t the first time the 49ers have dealt with a trade request from a player seeking a new contract. It very likely won’t be the last. In the past those requests haven’t pushed the team to cave. They’ve set a precedent that trade requests don’t spur action. If they have a goal of not rewarding trade requests, they might be inclined to wait on negotiating with Aiyuk.
News of Aiyuk’s trade request came down July 16 — the day rookies reported to camp for the 49ers. That means there was a week until Aiyuk and the rest of the veterans were due to report to camp. This is about the time San Francisco might be more willing to move on their offer a little. The problem is there’s potential if they hammer out a deal now that the request, at least outwardly, appeared to spark their move back to the table.
Perhaps the team doesn’t care. Perhaps they view the request as a usual tactic that exists only as fodder for internet discourse. However, if their goal is to ensure they’re not setting a precedent where a trade request lands a player a new contract, then Aiyuk’s long wait for an extension might have to drag out even longer.
