Aiyuk requested his first extension on the day Christian McCaffrey, the running back, received another paycheck.

It is hardly surprising that Aiyuk skipped the required minicamp. He wants in on the activity since he observes other receivers—including his draft classmates—getting paid. One of the few methods by which players might exert influence is to withhold services.

The Niners need to decide if they want to take on the growing market or wait until they have made another postseason run before making a move.   The holdout: How far could they go? Into the regular season, the preseason, or even training camp?

The Niners acknowledged that trade rumours circulated prior to the draft, but general manager John Lynch stated afterwards that the team intended to retain the wide receiver group in 2024, even with the acquisition of wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, a first-round selection. Whether Aiyuk is willing to play that game is the unanswered question. Could he advocate for an alternative outcome, or is he ready to take the chance of playing for a title contender on a lower contract and wait for his big payoff in 2025?