Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com recently identified the Cleveland Browns as a prime trade partner for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. She suggested that the AFC team could swap receiver Amari Cooper for Aiyuk. The hypothetical trade might intrigue the Browns, who would be getting a younger player and could meet Aiyuk's salary demands.
In return, San Francisco would receive a veteran receiver who has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in seven of his nine NFL seasons, including a career-high 1,250 yards last season.
"If Cooper is part of the deal, he can step right in and fill Aiyuk's shoes, and be a 1,000-yard receiver for Brock Purdy in what the 49ers expect to be another Super Bowl run," Cabot wrote. "With his excellent hands and premier route-running, arguably the best in the league, he could quickly adapt to the 49er offense and to Purdy's delivery."
49ers insider Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area sees a trade as a real possibility given Aiyuk's "hold in" during training camp. Although Aiyuk reported with his teammates, he has yet to practice, an unwanted distraction ahead of the 2024 season. Maiocco believes that if the Browns or the New England Patriots pursue Aiyuk, it will likely require more than just a single player to complete the deal.
"Because Cooper is in the final year of his contract, the Browns would also likely send multiple draft picks to the 49ers, including the possibility of a second-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft," Maiocco noted.
This could appeal to the 49ers, who would gain an immediate contributor while acquiring valuable draft capital to potentially add another younger—and cheaper—playmaker in 2025. Additionally, the team used this year's No. 31 overall pick to select wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, who has been described as an Aiyuk-type player.
As for the Patriots, Maiocco suggests that a package including former 49ers wide receiver Kendrick Bourne and some 2025 draft picks might be enough to finalize a trade. While this offer might not be as enticing as the hypothetical Browns deal, it could still be a viable option depending on the draft compensation.
Both scenarios hinge on Aiyuk's willingness to play for either team. While Aiyuk cannot dictate his trade destination, he could inform interested teams that he is unwilling to sign any contract extension with them, potentially derailing a deal.
Aiyuk is set to earn $14.124 million on a team-exercised fifth-year option but is likely seeking a contract that would place him among the NFL's highest-paid receivers, hoping to earn around $30 million annually.
