Insider hints 49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk could snub Browns, Patriots for different team
While Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reported on Monday night that the San Francisco 49ers “have negotiated the framework of trades that would send wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk to the Cleveland Browns or the New England Patriots,” Maiocco also mentioned the Washington Commanders and Pittsburgh Steelers were out of the Aiyuk sweepstakes.
“The Commanders have removed themselves from trade talks for Aiyuk, and the Steelers effectively no longer are an option after they declined to meet the 49ers’ trade demands,” Maiocco said.
During a Tuesday afternoon appearance on “The Rich Eisen Show,” NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero suggested the Browns and Patriots aren’t the only clubs with a shot at landing Aiyuk before Week 1.
“There are still active conversations with more than two teams,” Pelissero said about the Aiyuk situation, as shared by Josh Carney of Steelers Depot. “I would put it that way.”
Pelissero pointed out that Aiyuk possesses “a level of control over” where he plays this season, as the 26-year-old is in the final year of his rookie contract and could tell clubs such as the Browns and Patriots he won’t negotiate a long-term extension with them. Additionally, Chad Graff of The Athletic noted on Tuesday that Aiyuk “listed the Commanders and Steelers as his top options.”
Aiyuk and Washington rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels were teammates at Arizona State. Meanwhile, it was reported on Tuesday morning that the Steelers are “not gonna give up the world for” Aiyuk this summer.
“All the teams that have been out there, between the Browns and the Patriots, the Steelers, the Commanders on some level, everybody has been involved,” Pelissero said about talks with the 49ers regarding Aiyuk. “…But the 49ers have to get what they want and Aiyuk has to get what he wants. And so far, those two things have not meshed together.”
Maiocco revealed on Monday that the 49ers “likely would acquire a veteran wide receiver and a package of draft picks from the Browns or the Patriots” for Aiyuk. It’s unclear if the Steelers and/or Commanders would match such an asking price and also give Aiyuk the extension he wants to participate in training camp practices and in a club’s regular-season opener.
Updates since Monday afternoon indicate a 49ers team looking to make a second straight trip to the Super Bowl may now fear that holding onto a disgruntled Aiyuk could do more harm than good, especially if the 2020 first-round draft pick has made it known he won’t play without an extension. Such a scenario could result in the Niners adjusting what they would accept in return for Aiyuk if he’s serious about only joining either the Steelers or Commanders via a trade
