How 49ers roster construction makes Aiyuk mega-contract difficult

Brandon Aiyuk is seeking a lucrative long-term contract, but the way the 49ers are built might be causing bumps in the road for both parties. Aiyuk's desire for a market-appropriate contract, and the 49ers' need to make sure they do a deal that makes sense for them, led to the 2023 Second-Team All-Pro requesting a trade earlier this week. The 49ers' roster is star-studded with high-priced players on both sides of the ball, and while Aiyuk deserves a multi-year contract that reflects his play on the field, San Francisco might not be able to afford another mega-contract. On the offensive side of the ball, Deebo Samuel currently earns the highest average salary of $23.8 million per year, just in front of Trent Williams whose annual salary is $23 million. Christian McCaffrey, the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year, agreed to an extension this offseason netting him $19 million per year, while George Kittle's salary is the next highest, slated at $15 million per season. Each position's market value is a unique category but when looking at how much each player contributes on the field, it might be difficult for the 49ers to justify making Aiyuk their highest-paid offensive player....