What the exhaustive Aiyuk signing means for the 49ers’ future

“Next offseason, the future core of the 49ers will come into focus.

It’s likely the end for Deebo Samuel and others on the 49ers. The 49ers would save more than $9 million by trading him before June 1 and more than $17 million by trading him afterward.

Firing Javon Hargrave after June 1 would save the team $20.7 million. Maliek Collins’ $10 million non-guaranteed is another possible cut.

And what about Deommodore Lenoir and Charvarius Ward? The latter of those two counts for more than $12 million against the cap next season whether he plays for you or not, but it could be harder to replace Lenoir. It’s unlikely they can afford both.

Their entire focus will be on signing Brock Purdy – assuming he performs well this year – to an extension worth more than $55 million per year. And if this offseason is any indication, their old ways of dragging out negotiations until the last minute seem unwise.

They have now “lost” the negotiations, if you want to call it that, to Bosa, McCaffrey, Aiyuk, and they will absolutely have to give in to Williams if they are at all serious about this last dance thing. They will not “win” against Purdy. After that, money is going to be very tight.

But who is in that group? With Aiyuk intact for the next two, and likely three seasons, who else remains?

Christian McCaffrey is there for another year. After that it depends on health and performance.

George Kittle is likely safe for another year. If he plays well and stays healthy, he’ll remain a part of the core. But he’ll be 32 next season, and he’s admitted to us, the media, that he knows his play will determine what the future holds. The lack of an internal replacement for the 49ers helps him, as does his All-Pro caliber at a position that’s not terribly expensive at the top of the market.

Nick Bosa and Fred Warner are key players. They are good, although Bosa is safer than Warner.”

Shoulder specialists weigh in on 49ers rookie Ricky Pearsall’s painful summer (paywall)

“Two shoulder specialists agree with Shanahan that shoulder subluxations are not uncommon in football players. However, they also addressed what Shanahan overlooked: it is much less common to have Pearsall’s history with the injury.

Multiple partial dislocations may be evidence of recurrent anterior shoulder instability. The condition involves laxity or tears in the ligaments, tendons, and muscles around the shoulder and often requires surgery.

“It’s fair to say this is a common soccer injury,” said Dr. Daniel Kharrazi, an orthopedic surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles. “One subluxation? OK. But if it’s two or three times and he has to sit out. … The reality is, when you hear that this is a recurring problem, your antenna goes up and you wonder, ‘Is this something that needs to be addressed at some point?'”

Dr. Shahryar Ahmadi, an orthopedic surgeon at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center, said multiple subluxations often indicate a labral tear, or stretching of the soft tissue around the shoulder joint. Shanahan said Pearsall does not have a torn labrum.

Ahmadi said Pearsall’s rehabilitation after his latest subluxation likely involved strengthening exercises that could increase stability, but he doubted that this would be a miracle cure.

“He took some rest and that can help him, but it’s not going to solve the problem,” Ahmadi said. “Sometimes we can do some rehabilitation and physical therapy for the patient and that will strengthen the muscles around the shoulder. And those muscles around the shoulder act as a barrier that helps the shoulder not to sublux or dislocate. That can help.”

How Moore Benefits From Williams’ 49ers Contract Decline

“It’s been really helpful, I think,” Moore said. “Getting consistent reps against those guys, practicing against those guys every day, just finding a rhythm makes it a little bit better.

“I’m building camaraderie with the (No. 1) O-line and just getting a little more fluid.”

Moore has likely received more quality practice time in recent seasons than many other backup offensive linemen in the NFL.

The 36-year-old Williams has regularly scheduled days off during the season to keep him fresh for a long campaign.

And Moore, who will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, knows his place. He said he has tried to focus solely on his own game rather than on when he might have a chance to become a full-time starter.

“I’m just going to keep my head up and keep working to get better every day,” he said. “And obviously, being behind the greatest left tackle of all time, it’s just my calling card to learn from him every day. I’m just trying to get as much out of him as I can while he’s here.”

49ers GM Lynch named to NFL’s Competition Committee

“The Competition Committee reviews all competitive aspects of the NFL, including playing rules, roster regulations, technology, game operations and player protection issues.”

Key questions for the 49ers and Brandon Aiyuk now that the contract drama is over (paywall)

This season, however, will have a different dynamic. Deebo Samuel and George Kittle both have two more seasons left on their contracts, meaning they will be looking for an extension next offseason.

For example, Kittle is getting paid $15 million a season. Is he worth half of what Aiyuk is worth? Samuel knows he’ll likely be traded after this season when the 49ers make room for Brock Purdy’s new contract. So Kittle and Samuel have an interest in putting up solid numbers this season. Christian McCaffrey has four years left on his contract, but does he want to play four more years of MVP-caliber football for $15.5 million a year?

That’s not to say that these guys are selfish, that they care more about personal stats than team success, or that greed is their primary motivator. But they all have to get the ball. You don’t want four guys running back to the huddle and yelling at Purdy, “Dude, I’m Open.”

Why Brandon Aiyuk’s Fit With Brock Purdy Was Too Good For The 49ers, Kyle Shanahan To Trade Away (Paywall)

“After racking up an impressive 748 yards as a rookie in 2020, he quickly found himself falling short in Shanahan’s eyes and was pushed back into the starting lineup that season.

And Aiyuk has been working hard.

In 2022, he was the team’s best-conditioned wideout, someone capable of playing every offensive snap at full tilt. He hit his cuts to Shanahan’s satisfaction. He blocked downfield, he perfected his timing. He had the guts to get over the middle and the speed to get deep. And he got even better at all of those things last season.

That’s why it seemed so absurd that the 49ers would even consider trading Aiyuk. Purdy and Aiyuk seemed perfect for the notoriously picky Shanahan. And just as important, they seemed perfect for each other.

……

The last time the 49ers were this talented and loaded with Super Bowl expectations was 2013. It was literally all or nothing that season. When they failed to beat the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game, the veteran core quickly began to fall apart. And when it did, there was no next generation to replace it. With Frank Gore, Patrick Willis, Justin Smith, and others gone, the 49ers collapsed.

The current 49ers have the same top-tier talent and the same high expectations. The difference is that the team has a collection of players in their mid-20s and — finally — a quarterback-receiver combination that the demanding head coach likes.

The team’s Super Bowl window could shrink in the coming years as free agency and attrition take their toll. It doesn’t have to close immediately.”