NFL analyst unloads on Brandon Aiyuk contract situation in NFSW rant

Perhaps no player in the NFL right now is embroiled in a more contentious contract dispute than San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.

Adamant that he should be paid a contract that is on par with the $30 million plateau many other pass-catchers have topped this offseason, Aiyuk has requested a trade.

Aiyuk, who has made no shortage of cryptic social media posts centered around linking up former college teammate Jayden Daniels' Washington Commanders, is using the popular "hold-in" strategy. He is attending training camp to avoid getting fined, but he is not participating in team activities.

Even in a media landscape that is as pro-labor as it has ever been, there are some analysts who aren't exactly thrilled with what Aiyuk is doing. Former Super Bowl champion and current NFL analyst Mark Schlereth spent a good portion of his most recent podcast episode ripping Aiyuk and his behavior.

"I think it's chicken s—," Schlereth said. "Drop a set of nuts and don't show up. Or show up and, if you're gonna show up and you're gonna be around your teammates and you're gonna be in the locker room... Either have the balls to sit out or come to camp and participate. I think this 'sit in' stuff, it feels like it's toothless to me."

Mark Schlereth rips 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk in NFSW rant

Schlereth also said that Aiyuk is not a Top 10 wide receiver contract, implying that Aiyuk isn't even that important to San Francisco's offense. In Schlereth's eyes, Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, and George Kittle are all better than him and more integral parts of the 49ers' offense.

The Aiyuk situation is tough for all parties. While Brock Purdy's ultra-cheap contract gives San Francisco financial flexibility, the contracts handed out to stars like Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, and McCaffrey make them more boxed in than they originally appear. San Francisco also needs to plan for a Purdy extension in an always expanding market.

Perhaps Aiyuk sees the writing on the wall. With Purdy in line to be paid soon and San Francisco having spent a first-round pick on a possible replacement in Ricky Pearsall, the former Arizona State star may believe he isn't wanted by the organization.

Still, there's reason to believe a deal could get done. A Super Bowl favorite choosing not to extend their No. 1 wide receiver in his prime isn't something you see every day. Perhaps Schlereth will get his wish and see Aiyuk's hold-in come to an end.

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