Need a wide receiver on your roster? Call the San Francisco 49ers—they might have one available at the right price.
According to ESPN's Mike Reiss, the 49ers are now open to listening to trade offers for Brandon Aiyuk and have given the receiver's agent permission to negotiate a contract with other teams.
The 49ers have long insisted that Aiyuk was unavailable and expressed optimism that a contract extension with the star receiver would eventually get done. However, that changed this week as Aiyuk continued to "hold in" at training camp, refusing to participate in practices. Frustrated with the lack of progress in the negotiation process, the wideout recently requested a trade.
Reportedly, the 49ers have worked out frameworks for trades with the Cleveland Browns and the New England Patriots, leaving the ball in Aiyuk's court. He now has the option to accept an offer from one of those teams or take the lower offer from the 49ers, believed to be in the range of $26 million annually.
Aiyuk is slated to earn $14.124 million in 2024 on a team-exercised fifth-year option but likely seeks a salary closer to $30 million annually.
"The Patriots have been attempting to acquire Aiyuk for months, and it has been a slow process from their side, according to sources," wrote Reiss.
By being willing to listen to more offers, the 49ers increase their chances of a potential bidding war for the disgruntled receiver. Any interested team would likely have to include a veteran receiver in a trade package along with draft compensation. It's believed that the Browns are willing to include Amari Cooper, while the Patriots might include former 49ers wideout Kendrick Bourne.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are reportedly no longer a potential trade destination for Aiyuk.
"This is not a simple trade to execute," wrote ESPN's Adam Schefter. "Any interested team would have to meet the asking price of Brandon Aiyuk and the 49ers. It's easy to meet one of those conditions but considerably more complicated to meet both. So far, no one has been able to do it."
Head coach Kyle Shanahan is scheduled to speak to reporters this afternoon.
