9:45pm: Following reports from earlier this evening that trade talks for Brandon Aiyuk were heating up, it seems 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 each the Browns and Patriots. Maiocco also notes that the Commanders have removed themselves from the sweepstakes.
Now, the ball is within the player’s court to come to a decision if he’ll accept the extension offers from either squad. We heard last month that the player’s agent was granted permission to smell around on potential long-term deals.
While the Patriots would presumably look to entice the 49ers with draft compensation, the Browns are offering an instantaneous substitute for Aiyuk. Per May Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, the Browns would dangle Amari Cooper in a possible take care of San Francisco.
6:45pm: Nearly three weeks after Brandon Aiyuk requested a trade and nearly two weeks after the wideout began staging a hold-in, there’s been no progress in contract talks between the star receiver and the 49ers. While an extension appears to be the unlikeliest final result on this saga, it seems like the organization is making progress on potential trades.
In line with 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 shall be traded vs. signing a brand new contract with San Francisco.
We heard last month that at the very least five teams had shown a willingness to pay Aiyuk what he’s searching for, so it’s not a significant 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 are available in around A.J. Brown‘s $84MM.
A 3rd scenario will proceed to stay in play: the 2 sides resolve to play out the 2024 campaign before coping with the franchise tag next offseason. This might be the organization’s preferred route unless they’re in a position to acquire a useful player of their trade haul. On the flip side, we heard that Aiyuk continues to be pushing his “pay-me-or-trade-me” stance, so unless this ordeal ends in a trade, one among the 2 sides goes to need 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 sector for any practices. Within the meantime, it seems like the 2 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 accomplished.
