49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk: ‘Trying to get what I deserve’

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has seen his game elevate and the results follow over the last few seasons. With that in mind, Aiyuk said he wants to be paid handsomely on a new long-term contract. “I’m trying to get what I deserve,” Aiyuk said Thursday during an appearance on the Nightcap podcast with Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson. “I feel like this season, this season playing football, I figured out who I was as a person and a player, what I bring to the table, what I bring to the locker room, what I bring to the organization. And just the value I hold when I walk in that building. People going to follow me because I’ve done it the right way since I’ve been in that building. “From the first day I walked in there to when I was in there earlier this morning. I’ve done it the right way. If they don’t see the worth in that (makes a walking motion with hands), that’s all it is. It ain’t nothing else besides that. I can’t get into it. We got professionals working on both sides, so hopefully, we can come to a professional agreement and continue playing professional football.” Aiyuk, 26, didn’t delve into a specific amount of money that he is seeking with his next contract. He will receive $14.124 million in 2024 while playing on the fifth and final year of his contract. Aiyuk recorded 75 catches for a career-high 1,342 yards to go along with seven touchdowns in 16 games (all starts) last season. He has 269 receptions for 3,931 yards and 25 touchdowns in 62 career games (60 starts) since being selected by San Francisco with the 25th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. —