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Report: Aiyuk, 49ers had ‘good meeting,’ not entertaining trade originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

There has been a positive development in the Brandon Aiyuk contract saga.

The star wide receiver reportedly requested a meeting with the 49ers on Monday as the two sides continue negotiating a lucrative contract extension that is expected to pay Aiyuk near the top of the market at the position.

Monday’s discussion appears to have been productive. Aiyuk and the 49ers had a “good meeting” and San Francisco plans to move forward with Aiyuk on the roster this season, NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero reported Wednesday on NFL Network’s “The Insiders.”

“Here’s what I can tell you. Aiyuk and 49ers brass met on Monday at Aiyuk’s request,” Pelissero said. “This was a good meeting. From what I was told, both sides said things that needed to be said and they’re going to keep working. It’s important to note here, there’s never been a trade request from Brandon Aiyuk. That hasn’t changed. The 49ers’ stance hasn’t changed either despite getting trade calls on Aiyuk going back to draft week.

“They’re moving forward and they want Aiyuk to be a part of the team in 2024. So what I would anticipate here is all parties involved will go ahead and enjoy the Fourth of July holiday, regroup sometime after that — they’ve still got several weeks here to see if they can hammer out a deal that locks in Brandon Aiyuk with San Francisco for the long haul.”

Aiyuk previously appeared frustrated with the state of negotiations, claiming in a video posted to his TikTok account that the 49ers “don’t want me back” before continuing to address trade rumors on social media on Tuesday.

While an agreement doesn’t appear imminent, there does seem to be positive momentum building, and Monday’s meeting seems to have played an important role.

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Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ “Stadium of the Future” is a go, as the franchise and city approved an agreement on a $1.4 billion project on Tuesday that will keep the Jaguars in Jacksonville for “decades to come.” 

The proposal will see each side contribute $625 million to the project and Jacksonville would chip in another $150 million to get EverBank Stadium ready for construction beginning in 2026. The team will also not include any new taxes to pay for the rebuild.

With construction set to begin after the 2025 season, the Jaguars would play in front of a reduced capacity crowd in 2026 and then host home games in either Gainesville or Orlando in 2027. 

The updated look of EverBank Stadium was revealed last summer, representing the next step in the team’s efforts to transform downtown Jacksonville. The Jaguars plan to make the stadium four times as wide as the current one with interactive social areas and food local to the city. The stadium will include state of the art technology and a shade canopy to reduce heat retention by 70%.

As for other opportunities to improve the stadium? In announcing the stadium design last year, the franchise said the following changes will be made:

Shade on all seatsA 360-degree concourse
Wider concoursesIncreased space for football operationsBetter vertical transportationReplace HVAC, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical systems

The Jaguars, rumored for years to be a potential relocation franchise to London, have plans to remain in Jacksonville for the long term. This new stadium would ensure they’d remain in the market for another 30 years. The franchise chose to renovate EverBank Stadium instead of building a new one once the organization concluded it was structurally…

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New 49er Thomas explains why working with Shanahan has been eye-opening originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Logan Thomas has a decade of NFL experience, but joining the 49ers has been an eye-opening experience for the tight end, primarily because of coach Kyle Shanahan.

The 32-year-old Thomas shared his initial impression of Shanahan while speaking to NBC Sports Bay Area at Tight End University, the two-day camp hosted by 49ers All-Pro George Kittle, Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce and NFL alum Greg Olsen.

“It’s very different,” Thomas said. “He sees it in from the inside out, and from the outside in. He sets things up. He’s like there are a couple of plays that might not hit big, but setting it up for something else.

“You really respect that as a player because you know he’s grinding the same way you’re grinding and he wants to get the best out of you and we’re going to get the best out of him and that’s what’s most important.

Thomas joined Kittle at TEU along with fellow 49ers free-agent signee Eric Saubert and San Francisco rookie Mason Pline not only to work on fundamentals but to get to know his new teammates a little more. The Virginia Tech product brings a pass catching element that could supplement the production of Kittle as a receiver.

“I think it’s a huge opportunity,” Thomas said. “Obviously I’m not George. I’m not the guy that’s running the show every single day, but I’m ready to be the support guy and carve out a role for myself and be the guy they need me to be.”

Thomas had multiple options to choose from as a free agent but prioritized joining an organization that had a winning culture, and where he felt he could could contribute. Still, he is ready to do the work to earn his spot on the offense.

“They are a well oiled machine,” Thomas said of the 49ers’ offense. “They know what they are doing, and don’t care if you know what they are doing. Still got to stop it. That comes…

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Don’t call it a comeback, but the running back position underwent a resurgence in the 2024 NFL offseason.

Just a year ago in the 2023 offseason, Josh Jacobs, Saquon Barkley and Tony Pollard all failed to come to terms with their respective teams on long-term extensions with each settling for the franchise tag, and there had only been one running back to win the league’s NFL Offensive Player of the Year award in the last five seasons: Derrick Henry in 2020.  

This year, Jacobs, Barkley and Pollard all found multi-year contracts in free agency, as did many others at the position, and San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey took home OPOY honors after leading the NFL in rushing yards (1,459) and scrimmage yards (2,023) while co-leading the league in touchdowns (21) along with Miami Dolphins Pro Bowl running back Raheem Mostert. San Francisco naturally rewarded CMC with a two-year, $38 million extension that runs his previously running back-leading average-per-year salary up $3 million, from $16 million APY to $19 million APY. 

Notable running backs to sign multi-year contracts this offseason

Christian McCaffrey re-signed on a two-year, $38 million extension with 49ersDerrick Henry signed a two-year, $16 million contract with RavensJosh Jacobs signed a four-year, $48 million contract with PackersSaquon Barkley signed a three-year, $37.75 million contract with EaglesRhamondre Stevenson signed a four-year, $36 million extension with PatriotsAustin Ekeler signed a four-year, $24.5 million contract with CommandersD’Andre Swift signed a three-year, $24 million contract with BearsTony Pollard signed a three-year, $21.75 million contract with TitansJoe Mixon signed a two-year, $19.75 million extension with Texans

The running back position may never hold as large of an importance as it once did in an NFL now geared toward the passing game, but the 2023 season proved that when utilized…

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