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By James Brizuela
Contributing Writer
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The San Francisco 49ers have once again made star running back Christian McCaffrey the highest paid player at his respective position.
Read more: Vikings, Star Justin Jefferson Agree to Record-Breaking Extension, Resetting WR Market
Read More on NFL
Longtime NFL insider Adam Schefter announced that the 49ers and McCaffrey have once again reset the market, as the star has received a new two-year extension. This two-year deal is worth $38 million and will pay him $19 million per year, a new record for the running back position.
McCaffrey also gets an additional $8 million on top of what he was scheduled to make in the first two years of the deal, along with getting $24 million in additional guarantees.
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McCaffrey already had a deal with the Carolina Panthers in 2020, when the team paid him a four-year, $64 million extension that made him the highest earner at the running back position with $16 million annually. This deal was not changed when the 49ers made the historic trade to acquire the star.
A mere four seasons later, the 49ers have made good on paying the best running back in the league a market-resetting $19 million per year. Honestly, McCaffrey should be making far more than $19 million per season, as he is a dual-threat offensive weapon unlike anyone else in the NFL.
Since joining the 49ers in 2022, he has put up a total of 3,952 total yards, and 1,180 of those yards have been on the receiving front. McCaffrey also led the league in 2023 with 1,459 rushing yards, which beat out second-place Derrick Henry (who had 1,167) by a wide margin.
McCaffrey has been a phenom on the ground and in the pass-catching game for the 49ers' offense, and it's no wonder they were willing to give him a rightful new extension. However, this does put a bit of a strain on the team giving out a new deal to wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
Aiyuk skipped OTAs and has also not reported to the team's mandatory minicamp. This means that he is subject to be fined. The 49ers instead decided to give an extension to wide receiver Jauan Jennings. Jennings' deal does not have much impact on Aiyuk, but there could be a reality where Aiyuk does not play in 2024.
Players often hold out for a new contract and can take things as far as sitting out an entire season. It's not common for this to happen, but it appears that Aiyuk could be playing hardball with the 49ers as he awaits a new contract.
At the very least, the team can be happy that they have secured the talents of McCaffrey through the 2026 season.
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