According to Matt Maiocco, who covers the San Francisco 49ers for NBC, the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots have agreed to the framework to trade for wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Aiyuk now needs to decide if he will agree to a contract extension with either of these teams to cement the deal. If Aiyuk were to decline, he would remain with the 49ers and they would be once again be at an impasse.
Per the report, the deal with the Browns would center around wide receiver Amari Cooper. Cooper had just recently agreed to restructure his contract with the team, guaranteeing him most of his contract. If the Browns were to move him, they would have to eat a large amount of dead money. From a cap perspective, they can make it work as they extension with Aiyuk would likely drop his base salary to practically nothing with increasing cap hits in future seasons.
Cooper gives the 49ers exactly what they need in this situation. A credible top flight receiver that fits their financial framework and gives them the ability to keep pushing towards the Super Bowl.
However, if 49ers were going to make a deal with the Browns, it seems like the best time to have done it would’ve been before Cooper restructured his deal. He had a manageable $20 million salary, which would’v been workable for them. They could’ve negotiated an extension if they chose. But with the Browns eating that money, they are likely less inclined to send premium draft assets in addition to Cooper. However, if they are indeed part of a bidding war and want Aiyuk badly enough, maybe they are willing to do what it takes to get him.
Aiyuk is 26 years old. Along with Jerry Jeudy and David Njoku, they would have a formidable triumvirate of weapons to go with Deshaun Watson. That’s a group that could stick together for the next several years and cause defenses all kinds of problems.
The sticking point is that Aiyuk has to agree to the contract extension. If it’s simply a matter of money, the Browns can pay him what he wants, reportedly around $30 million per season. If Aiyuk has his heart set on a particular location in addition to the money, it could get tricky. The 49ers are desperately hoping Aiyuk is open to potential locations because it would allow them to get more back in a trade. The only leverage they have is they can keep him for the season as he’s currently under contract.
It remains to be seen if this rumor is based in reality. It’s strange for the Browns to renegotiate Cooper’s contract, guaranteeing him a boatload of money to then immediately eat it. Having said that, Aiyuk a game changing receiver and if the Browns want him badly enough, they could pull the trigger.
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