John Lynch is amazed by Brandon Aiyuk’s progress with the 49ers.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has been on the rise this season, posting impressive numbers with 43 receptions for 831 yards and four touchdowns.
The fourth-year player had a career-high 156 receiving yards on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, including an incredible 76-yard touchdown catch.
Aiyuk is on pace to rush for 1,477 yards this season.
Only one player in franchise history has scored more points in a single season: Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice. He’s done it six times and is still great company.
“He’s a really great player,” general manager John Lynch said in an interview with NBC Sports Bay Area this week as the 49ers prepared for Thanksgiving vs. the Seattle Seahawks.
“It’s fun to watch him. We’re talking about what we covet in a wide receiver, his body movement, his skill set, his ability to throw shoulder and translate, and he uses that body. You can do crazy things with it.”
“I call it Go, Go, Gadget because it’s incredibly long.” His arms can extend as long as needed on a particular route.
Lynch recalled a conversation with Herm Edwards, Aiyuk’s former coach at Arizona State, who predicted continued improvement for the receiver.
Edwards praised Aiyuk as a great player who responds well to coaching.
“I think you’re seeing guys who are already playing great football, but I think there’s actually more to it than that, and I see it every week,” Lynch continued.
Aiyuk’s big touchdown reception against the Buccaneers showed his growth over four NFL seasons.
“Since he was at Arizona State, we thought he was a great deep ball player,” Lynch explained.
“You couldn’t beat him with those long arms. He always understood that.
And he wasn’t as successful with the deep ball as we thought he was early in his career.
But I think it’s finally starting to come together. And if that’s going to be his game, be careful because he’s very deadly on low and medium routes.”
Contrary to initial expectations for Deebo Samuel, Aiyuk has emerged as the 49ers’ strongest pass-catching weapon this season.
He earned more than twice as much as the higher-paid Samuel in the 49ers’ first 10 games and will earn his own big salary after this season.
Lynch added, “He’s a great football player and I love his warrior spirit.”