The 49ers Pick Up Brandon Aiyuk's 5th Year Option

I'm guessing the 49ers didn't want to pick up Aiyuk's option until the first round of the draft was over.

They finally made it official.

The 49ers have picked up Brandon Aiyuk's fifth-year option for 2024, according to The NFL Network. This move seemed like it would be a mere formality all offseason, considering Aiyuk produced his first 1,000-yard receiving season last year and just turned 25.

But at John Lynch's pre-draft press conference when asked if he was planning to pick up Aiyuk's option, Lynch said he wanted to wait until after the draft to make that announcement, which was strange, because the 49ers picked up the fifth-year options of Nick Bosa and Mike McGlinchey before the draft. Waiting until after the draft for Aiyuk seemed strange and unprecedented.

And then the 49ers made it official today, after Day 1 but before Day 2. So they didn't wait until the draft was finished after all.

Why?

I'm guessing the 49ers didn't want to pick up Aiyuk's option until the first round of the draft was over. Because even though they didn't intend to trade him, there still was a remote chance a team would call them and make an offer they couldn't refuse. That offer clearly never materialized, and so the 49ers picked up Aiyuk's option.

But that doesn't mean the 49ers will extend Aiyuk's contract long term. That's a decision they'll have to make next year, and they're already paying big big money for Deebo Samuel. They might feel they shouldn't pay big money to two wide receivers. 

The 49ers will cross that bridge when they get to it. For now, Aiyuk is here to stay.