The Brandon Aiyuk situation is approaching a resolution. According to NBC Sports Bay Area, the San Francisco 49ers are in discussions regarding potential trades with both the Cleveland Browns and the New England Patriots. The final decision now lies with Aiyuk and his representatives concerning his next contract.
Reports suggest the 49ers have accepted the offers made by the Browns and Patriots for Aiyuk, leaving only the financial aspects to be settled. It is believed that San Francisco could receive a veteran wide receiver along with a package of draft picks in exchange for their top wideout.
This update follows an earlier report from NFL Media indicating that contract negotiations between Aiyuk and the 49ers had stagnated, making a trade appear more likely than a contract extension with the team.
The 49ers have granted Aiyuk permission to negotiate with several teams, including the Browns, Patriots, Washington Commanders, and Pittsburgh Steelers. However, Washington later withdrew from the discussions, and Pittsburgh reportedly declined to meet San Francisco’s asking price.
It remains to be seen what the 49ers will accept for their All-Pro wide receiver. Earlier reports suggested that prior to the 2024 NFL Draft, San Francisco was looking for a first-round pick. Pro Football Talk noted that Aiyuk’s agent was authorized at that time to explore whether other teams would agree to his desired contract, rumored to be around $28 million annually. Aiyuk’s agent reportedly identified five teams willing to offer that salary, but they could not satisfy the 49ers’ trade demands.
The wide receiver market has been particularly active this offseason, with four receivers securing contracts averaging over $30 million annually.
Brandon Aiyuk, the former No. 25 overall pick from Arizona State, enjoyed his best NFL season in 2023, catching 75 passes for a career-high 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns. He ranked second in the NFL with an average of 17.9 yards per reception and third with 3.1 yards per route run.