The San Francisco 49ers are sitting on almost $72 million in available cap space for 2026, with a plan to roll over as much of that cash as possible. But while they are loaded with high-end talent, not every contract is a winner. The way their cornerstone players are structured, with low base salaries and huge bonuses, means some hits sting way more than others. We are looking at one absolutely brutal contract on their books for 2026, and it involves a big name receiver.
Brandon Aiyuk's Contract Is a No-Return Nightmare
If you are a 49ers fan, you are probably already dreading this one. Brandon Aiyuk's deal is a real gut punch, coming in as the worst contract for the team in 2026. This isn't low-hanging fruit; it is just a fact. He has a $1,215,000 base salary, with a massive $7,363,790 prorated bonus and a $5,387,000 non-prorated bonus. The killer? There is $0 guaranteed money in his contract, pushing his cap number to $13,665,790. The 49ers are only off the hook until Aiyuk applies for reinstatement. If he does and reports to the building, the team will likely release him, which means they are stuck with dead money that mirrors his prorated bonus. Yeah, that is a tough pill to swallow. They do stand to save $6,302,000 in cap space, which is something, but the bottom line is they are getting absolutely no return on the investment they made. We will always have 2023, but man, this deal is brutal and could definitely stop the 49ers from giving another extension to a receiver down the line, affecting guys like Ricky Pearsall.Colton McKivitz: The Right Tackle Steal
On the flip side, what about the absolute steal on their roster? That has to be right tackle Colton McKivitz. He is on a contract that screams "bargain." His base salary is also $1,215,000, but his prorated bonus is $3,928,555, with an $830,000 non-prorated bonus and $2,045,000 guaranteed. His cap number sits at a tidy $5,823,555. While Trent Williams gets all the love on that offensive line, McKivitz has quietly proven himself as a solid right tackle. The 49ers drafted Mike McGlinchey, let him walk, and then replaced his production for pennies on the dollar with McKivitz. Pro Football Focus ranks McKivitz a ridiculous 8th among all NFL tackles with an 84.2 offensive grade. For comparison, Williams is 3rd. McKivitz is a beast in the run game, ranking 4th with a 90.4 grade. His pass-blocking grade is a respectable 72.6, too. Getting this kind of production at a premium position for such a fraction of the cost? That is just good business. So, while the 49ers have a ton of cap space to play with moving forward, the Aiyuk contract is a real albatross. It will impact how they manage their roster and could affect future decisions at wide receiver. They need to keep making those McKivitz-level moves if they want to keep that $72 million cap space working for them, not against them.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.