HEADLINES

Brandon Aiyuk Trade Framework In Place With Browns, Patriots?

August 5th, 2024 at 9:45pm CST by Ben Levine

9:45pm: Following reports from earlier this evening that trade talks for Brandon Aiyuk were heating up, it sounds like the 49ers have found a pair of worthy offers. Per Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area, the 49ers have established “the framework” of an Aiyuk trade with both the Browns and Patriots. Maiocco also notes that the Commanders have removed themselves from the sweepstakes.

Now, the ball is in the player’s court to decide if he’ll accept the extension offers from either squad. We heard last month that the player’s agent was granted permission to sniff around on potential long-term deals.

While the Patriots would presumably look to entice the 49ers with draft compensation, the Browns are offering an immediate replacement for Aiyuk. Per May Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, the Browns would dangle Amari Cooper in a potential deal with San Francisco.

6:45pm: Nearly three weeks after Brandon Aiyuk requested a trade and nearly two weeks after the wideout started staging a hold-in, there’s been no progress in contract talks between the star receiver and the 49ers. While an extension seems to be the unlikeliest outcome in this saga, it sounds like the organization is making progress on potential trades.

According to Matt Barrows of The Athletic, “multiple teams” have contacted the 49ers about an Aiyuk trade. Barrows adds that talks “heated up again recently,” although no deal is imminent. Meanwhile, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero reported today that it’s more likely Aiyuk will be traded vs. signing a new contract with San Francisco.

We heard last month that at least five teams had shown a willingness to pay Aiyuk what he’s seeking, so it’s not a major development that these teams subsequently made a phone call to the 49ers. The organization hasn’t been willing to budge on their $26-$27MM-per-year price range, and Aiyuk has been tied to wanting a deal at or around $30MM and guarantees that come in around A.J. Brown‘s $84MM.

A third scenario will continue to remain in play: the two sides decide to play out the 2024 campaign before dealing with the franchise tag next offseason. This is probably the organization’s preferred route unless they’re able to acquire a useful player in their trade haul. On the flip side, we heard that Aiyuk is still pushing his “pay-me-or-trade-me” stance, so unless this ordeal ends in a trade, one of the two sides is going to have to blink.

Aiyuk attended training camp but has watched from the sideline for the past two weeks. Barrows notes that the player has attended meetings but hasn’t actually taken the field for any practices. In the meantime, it sounds like the two sides are struggling to bridge the gap, and if the 49ers are actively listening to offers for the wideout, it should only be a matter of time before a trade is completed.

View Comments (62)