The San Francisco 49ers have entered negotiations regarding potential trades that could send wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk to either the Cleveland Browns or the New England Patriots, according to a source reported by Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area.
Aiyuk now faces a decision on whether to accept contract terms from either of these teams. The 49ers granted the second-team All-Pro receiver permission to explore negotiations with the Browns, Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Washington Commanders. However, reports indicate that the Steelers and Commanders are no longer viable options for Aiyuk.
The Washington Commanders have withdrawn from trade discussions, while the Steelers chose not to agree to the 49ers’ trade conditions. In June, Aiyuk expressed interest in potentially joining the Steelers and Commanders should he leave San Francisco.
The 26-year-old requested a trade from the 49ers on July 16. While teams reached out to San Francisco last month, general manager John Lynch consistently stated that the organization did not plan to trade the two-time 1,000-yard receiver. Recently, however, discussions surrounding a possible trade have gained traction, as reported by NFL journalist Jordan Schultz.
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero indicated that Aiyuk is more likely to be traded than to sign an extension with the 49ers, as noted by NFL.com’s Nick Shook.
Although Aiyuk reported to the 49ers’ training camp in July, he has not participated in practices due to stalled contract negotiations with the team. San Francisco previously considered trading both Aiyuk and fellow receiver Deebo Samuel in April but ultimately decided to retain their star players. The 49ers subsequently drafted wide receiver Ricky Pearsall in Round 1.
Last season, Aiyuk recorded 75 receptions for a career-high 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns across 16 games. His average of 17.9 yards per reception ranked second in the NFL among eligible receivers in 2023.
Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Aiyuk is set to earn $14.1 million in 2024, with a market value of $26.2 million per year, according to Spotrac.
