The San Francisco 49ers reportedly have two separate deals in place for superstar wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
According to a report from Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area, the 49ers have the “framework” in place for a Brandon Aiyuk trade with the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots.
Maiocco added that Aiyuk now has to decide if he wants to accept a trade and contract extension with either the Browns or Patriots. Interestingly, his report notes that the Washington Commanders and Pittsburgh Steelers were also in the Aiyuk sweepstakes before removing themselves:
“The 49ers have negotiated the framework of trades that would send wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk to the Cleveland Browns or the New England Patriots, a league source told NBC Sports Bay Area on Monday night.
Now it’s up to Aiyuk to determine if he will accept the contract terms from either of those franchises, the source said.
The 49ers gave permission to Aiyuk to negotiate potential contracts with the Browns, Patriots, Washington Commanders and Pittsburgh Steelers, the source said.”
The 26-year-old Aiyuk is entering the fifth and final year of his rookie contract. ESPN’s Adam Schefter explained on “The Pat McAfee Show” that Aiyuk essentially has a no-trade clause in his deal, since he can refuse a contract from the team that wants to acquire him.
“If Brandon Aiyuk doesn’t wanna go to a team he can say I’m not taking that contract..
He has the ability to say no to these teams if he doesn’t wanna go there” ~ @AdamSchefter #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/utyNTS4971
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) August 5, 2024
Brandon Aiyuk requested a trade from the 49ers last month after a lack of progress in contract extension talks. The 2020 first-round pick is coming off a career year in which he caught 75 passes for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns.
For his career, Aiyuk has 269 receptions for 3,931 yards and 25 touchdowns.
Browns & Patriots Are Ideal Landing Spots For Brandon Aiyuk
The Browns already have a perennial Pro Bowl wide receiver in Amari Cooper, but they also acquired ex-Denver Bronco Jerry Jeudy for pennies on the dollar in an offseason blockbuster trade.
But acquiring Aiyuk would arguably give the Browns the best WR trio in football, pushing them closer to Super Bowl contention in a crowded AFC.
That said, Aiyuk would also do well in New England. He has to fight for targets with Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and George Kittle on the 49ers. The Patriots have zero offensive weapons close to those three players, so Aiyuk would immediately step in as the go-to playmaker in their offense.
