San Francisco 49ers' head honcho Kyle Shanahan is keeping his eyes on the prize, focusing squarely on football amid the buzz that key player Brandon Aiyuk skipped OTAs.
Aiyuk's absence from OTAs is down to ongoing contract negotiations. The second-team All-Pro receiver is holding out for a deal that mirrors his standing as one of the NFL's elite wideouts. With a $14 million paycheck awaiting him in 2024 under the fifth-year option, Aiyuk is still trailing behind the league's 18 other receivers who rake in $20 million annually or more.
Talks between Aiyuk and the 49ers have yet to bridge this gap, prompting him to sit out the voluntary sessions. "Same as I do about all these guys that aren't here," Shanahan remarked on Tuesday. "I wish they were here, but it's something that's part of the business and anytime it's part of the business part you try to respect it. Stay out of it as much as possible. Look forward to the days when we can just focus on football."
Pre-draft whispers hinted at a possible trade involving either Aiyuk or teammate Deebo Samuel, but both remain with the team, much to the relief of quarterback Brock Purdy, who's eyeing another shot at Super Bowl glory with the Niners.
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"The draft is going on and stuff, and obviously you're excited to get guys that you're drafting, but at the same time, it's like, 'dang dude, we could have some kind of trade stuff happen and whatever,'" Purdy shared. "But like I said, all that's out of my control.
"I was sort of just sitting there, waiting to see what our team was going to do and everything. My job is to show up and rip it to the open guy and try to win games. So that's my mindset with it. But I do love my boys and I obviously hope that we can all continue to play together."
Aiyuk was not the only 49ers star absent from OTAs. Both Christian McCaffrey and Jauan Jennings were nowhere to be found. The precise reason behind McCaffrey's absence remains a mystery. In the last season, McCaffrey boasted 272 carries, amassing 1,459 yards and scoring an impressive 21 touchdowns over 16 games, bagging the Offensive Player of the Year award.
Aiyuk's future in San Francisco isn't clear at this point (Getty)Coach Shanahan holds a laissez-faire attitude towards McCaffrey's missing presence, noting: "I'm not too concerned about Christian. But no, he hasn't been here," when quizzed about the running back's current location.
McCaffrey managed to score a touchdown in Super Bowl LVIII, although it wasn't enough to overcome the Kansas City Chiefs. The defeat deeply affected him as revealed by his own words: "It hurts deep,".
According to McCaffrey, "It's something you dream about as a kid and (something) you've worked so hard for all year. And to come up short. Think you just have to go through all the emotions as they come. Each day just chip away at getting back to normal. I don't know how long it's gonna take. It's still fresh and it still sucks."
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