Brandon Aiyuk clearly isn’t too happy with the San Francisco 49ers, and the two sides have not seemed to make any progress in extension talks.

Aiyuk has not participated in any of the 49ers’ offseason activities thus far, and if he is unable to strike a new deal with San Francisco within the next few weeks, he probably won’t be at training camp, either.

But there could be reason for optimism.

While NFL insider Albert Breer says the situation between the star wide receiver and the Niners looks “bleak” right now, he thinks a resolution will occur.

49ers fans can lean on the past for encouragement

Breer compared the 49ers’ current predicament to the one they encountered with fellow receiver Deebo Samuel during the summer of 2022.

Samuel was embroiled with a contract dispute with the club and was not entirely thrilled with his frequent usage as a running back, but eventually, the two parties were able to agree to an extension.

Breer sees the same conclusion happening with Aiyuk.

“The best thing for a team on the cusp of the championship is to have a guy like Aiyuk, who’s more of a pure No. 1 receiver than Samuel is, on board,” Breer wrote for Sports Illustrated. “I think they will get Aiyuk there over the next couple of months.”

So, this could potentially be something that drags out well into the summer, but it does seem hard to imagine San Francisco trading Aiyuk or allowing this entire quandary to affect its 2024 campaign.

The Niners are trying to win a Super Bowl. Moving Aiyuk would obviously be counterproductive to that goal, even if it means potentially losing him for nothing in free agency next offseason.

Of course, the problem is that Aiyuk wants some long-term security beyond 2024, so he could ultimately force the 49ers’ hand to extend him now.

While Aiyuk is under contract, he can threaten to sit out this coming season. While he probably won’t do that with free agency on tap for him next March, the dilemma could absolutely cause some locker-room dissension, and San Francisco obviously does not want that.

We’ll see if the Niners can finally get something done with Brandon Aiyuk in the coming weeks (or months).

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