Aiyuk Nixed Deals to Patriots and Browns

One of the longest ongoing developments of this NFL offseason is the drama surrounding star WR Brandon Aiyuk and the 49ers. Aiyuk has notably requested a trade from the team, despite the 49ers' reluctance to move him. Recently, momentum has built regarding potential trade scenarios for the wideout, with reports indicating that the Browns and Patriots had deals in place to acquire him. However, both of these trades have seemingly been shot down, as Aiyuk was not willing to sign a contract extension with either team. The extension is the biggest part of this situation, as it was the lack of one that prompted Aiyuk to request a trade from San Francisco in the first place.

While we now know that Aiyuk turned down these potential trade scenarios, we do know the framework for these deals involved some interesting names. For Cleveland, it was reported that WR Amari Cooper was the primary return for San Francisco, along with draft compensation. This was a surprising revelation, as Cooper has been very good during his time with Cleveland and remains a talented receiver despite his advancing age. For New England, wide receiver Kendrick Bourne was mentioned as a potential return, along with draft compensation as well. Bourne, formerly with the 49ers in 2020, has made a solid career for himself thus far.

Despite these two compelling offers that seemingly would’ve been okay with San Francisco, both were ultimately squashed by Aiyuk’s unwillingness to play for these teams. Cleveland has had a tumultuous past few decades, and New England is in the midst of a rebuild. It makes sense why Aiyuk wouldn’t be interested in long-term extensions if his ultimate goal is to win a Super Bowl. For the 49ers, they will have to keep navigating this situation to either strike a deal or secure a contract extension for their talented young WR. With the regular season quickly approaching, it’s expected that a resolution of some sort should be in place in the coming weeks.