Report: Brandon Aiyuk expected to skip 49ers OTAs as contract talks remain far apart

It's hardly surprising news, but NFL Network's Mike Garafolo confirmed what many anticipated: San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is unlikely to report to Santa Clara for organized team activities (OTAs), which commenced yesterday. The team's first practice open to the media will be held this afternoon.

Garafolo points out that the two sides appear to remain far apart in the negotiation process, with Aiyuk seeking a long-term deal that makes him one of the highest-paid receivers in the NFL.

"So don't expect to see Aiyuk around for anything that's voluntary," Garafolo shared on NFL Network's "The Insiders" show. "And let's see about the mandatory stuff as well with him because you know he wants this done. He doesn't want to have to play on the last year of his contract. And if the 49ers, at some point, realize, well, we can't get this thing done, does he push their hand and say, 'Well, look, either it's a contract or get me out of here'?"

Garafolo clarified that tensions haven't reached that level yet, saying, "There hasn't been a trade request. I know that there were rumblings and reports about it. We're just not there. At this point, it's just a matter of figuring out what his value is because he's looking out, and he's seeing the deal that [Lions WR] Amon-Ra St. Brown got done, and the 49ers may turn around and say, 'Well, your production is not the same as his.'

"And he could say, 'Well, my target share is not the same, between [RB] Christian McCaffrey and [TE] George Kittle and [WR] Deebo Samuel. The ball's got to go elsewhere in this offense. So if I had the number of targets that he had or some of these other guys had, my production would be up there with them as well.'"

Garafolo points out that the 49ers' unique talent level further complicates negotiations, with the team well aware that more star power means more large contracts to spread around.

"So that's the dance that's kind of going on right now," Garafolo concludes. "But every sense that I've gotten from speaking to folks familiar with the progress of talks is that they are not close at this point."