Hill is the latest receiver to receive his salary as extension talks between Aiyuk and the 49ers stall Originally appeared in NBC Bay Area Sports
The NFL wide receiver market changed again on Saturday when the Miami Dolphins restructured Tyreek Hill’s contract, reportedly giving the All-Pro the most guaranteed money in the history of the position.
Hill’s new deal does not add any more years to the extension he signed in 2022, ESPN Adam Schefter reportedciting a source, but the restructured contract is worth $90 million over the next three years with $65 million guaranteed, and the $106.5 million in updated fully guaranteed money is the most ever for a wide receiver, according to Schefter.
Meanwhile, the 49ers and Brandon Aiyuk have yet to come to an agreement on a contract extension for the receiver, who is currently involved in A “retention” training camp after reportedly requesting a trade last month.
As the situation remains unresolved, Hill is the latest wide receiver to receive a payout that offers a glimpse of what Aiyuk could earn, joining the I like Justin Jefferson (four years, $140 million), Jaylen Waddle (three years, $84.75 million), Amon-Ra St. Brown (four years, $120 million), DeVonta Smith (three years, $75 million) and AJ Brown (three years, $96 million), among others, as receivers to acquire this offseason.
Hill has been the undisputed force of Miami’s offense since the Dolphins acquired him in a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022, leading the NFL with 3,509 yards since then while commanding 30.7 percent of his team’s passes (h/t ESPN). Hill recently earned the No. 1 spot on the NFL’s Top 100 list after racking up a league-high 1,799 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns last season and an NFL-best 112.4 receiving yards per game.
While Hill’s deal likely won’t impact Aiyuk’s negotiations with San Francisco much, the massive amount of guaranteed money included for Hill could further slow the 49ers’ talks and make the market for the position that much more lucrative.
Aiyuk posted 1,000-plus yard performances in each of his final two seasons – 1,015 in 2022 and 1,342 in 2023. He was also voted NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his eight-reception, 129-yard, two-touchdown performance in the 49ers’ Week 1 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, helping him earn Second-Team All-Pro honors for the first time in his professional career.
Despite its production, The 49ers face obstacles by signing Aiyuk to a long-term contract. And while the 49ers receiver Reportedly wants to surpass St. Brown’s contract is at $28 million per year, a figure that high seems unlikely given his proximity to Hill’s new deal.
But the longer San Francisco waits, with Aiyuk watching from the scrimmage line, the more complicated things become.
