The 49ers offense looked like it might not be at full strength ahead of the 2024 NFL season with under two weeks before Week 1.
At the time, two of San Francisco's top offensive players — Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Williams — were holding out from the team. It wasn't clear whether either would return to the field for Week 1, creating some questions for the 49ers about how their scoring unit would operate.
But on Thursday, Aug. 29, it was reported that Aiyuk would sign a four-year contract worth up to $120 million. That made him one of the NFL's five highest-paid receivers and effectively guaranteed he'd be able to face the Jets.
The 49ers followed that up by reportedly getting their deal with Williams across the finish line. Details of that contract extension haven't yet been reported; that said, Williams' strength and consistency should make him one of the NFL's highest-paid offensive tackles, as he already ranked sixth at the position in average annual value (AAV) entering the season.
How did the 49ers pull off these quality re-signings just before the 2024 NFL season? Here's what to know about San Francisco's new deals and why they should feel familiar to the 49ers faithful.
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How 49ers re-signed Brandon Aiyuk, Trent Williams
The 49ers re-signed Aiyuk and Williams essentially by being patient in their negotiations with the two stars.
San Francisco entered negotiations with Aiyuk and Williams knowing each party was already under contract for the 2024 NFL season. That gave the 49ers leverage in the discussions even with the duo due for a raise.
Why? Neither Aiyuk nor Williams would be able to collect their 2024 paychecks until they reported to the team, practiced and played.
That strategy certainly carried some risk. Had either Aiyuk or Williams been willing to hold out into the regular season, — or demanded a trade and refused to play for the 49ers — it would have been difficult for the team to replace their offensive production. That would be less than ideal as San Francisco looked to keep its Super Bowl window open for another season.
In the end, the 49ers found their way to a happy compromise while taking negotiations right up to the wire. It isn't clear which side capitulated most to get the deals over the finish line, but San Francisco's patience at least demonstrates they were willing to wait for the right deal to come along.
And while Aiyuk and Williams may have been disgruntled during their respective holdouts, they now appear to be happy as they prepare to play in the 2024 NFL season.
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What to expect from Brandon Aiyuk, Trent Williams
49ers fans will be anxious to see what Aiyuk and Williams can do in Week 1 — provided that each suits up in San Francisco's game against the Jets.
Kyle Shanahan implied a couple of weeks before Aiyuk's signing that the veteran receiver shouldn't take long to get into playing shape.
"I trust Brandon knows what he’s got to do for this year to get ready to play," Shanahan said, per ProFootballTalk. "I have a feeling he’s finding a way to stay in shape and do those things. But there’s a football shape element that I know he is eager to get back to and us too. So hopefully we can get to that soon. But Brandon knows what he’s got to do to be in shape for the season and I feel confident he is doing that."
Aiyuk may still face slight limitations in Week 1. Still, he should be good to play a sizable role with the 49ers considering that he has a full week of practice at his disposal.
As for Williams, Shanahan specifically mentioned the left tackle's turn could be more like Nick Bosa's. The veteran defensive lineman and former No. 2 pick didn't sign with the 49ers until four days before their Week 1 game in 2023.
"Depends on when we see [Williams], how he looks and how he feels," Shanahan said, per NBC Sports Bay Area. "I haven’t talked to him for a number of days, but Trent will give every day. We will let it be as close as possible, but we just got to get with him, we got to see him, talk to him.
"Very similar to how we were with Bosa. There wasn’t a day that we would put on the calendar, what would be our last day. You hope it’s every day that has already passed. So each day makes it harder and harder, but you don’t really make that decision until you see someone and talk to him."
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Bosa played just over half the defensive snaps in the 49ers' 30-7 win over the Steelers in Week 1. His 56 percent snap share marked his second-lowest in a single game from the season, ahead of only his eight-snap performance in Week 18.
It may be harder for the 49ers to rotate Williams, as he is the team's best offensive lineman. Still, if San Francisco wants to ease him back into action, Jaylon Moore and Brandon Parker could see action on a few series against the Jets.
That won't be a long-term practice, however. The 49ers have their two stars back in the fold and will use them to support Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel throughout the 2024 NFL season.
That may be just enough to position San Francisco to repeat as NFC champions.