Browns could have the perfect trade to land WR Brandon Aiyuk from the San Francisco 49ers
There are a few teams around the league right now that are dealing with contract issues with their wide receivers, the Cleveland Browns are one of those teams with Amari Cooper holding out for a new deal. Cooper missed all of the mandatory minicamp, as he searches for guaranteed money and years on his contract […]
There are a few teams around the league right now that are dealing with contract issues with their wide receivers, the Cleveland Browns are one of those teams with Amari Cooper holding out for a new deal.
But what if there was a trade that made sense for the Browns and another NFL team to make happen? Well, there is and the Browns and San Francisco 49ers both have benefits to making this trade.
Browns trade WR Amari Cooper and 2025 third-round pick to the 49ers for WR Brandon Aiyuk
San Francisco is dealing with a contract issue for the younger Aiyuk and signs are pointing toward them not wanting to give him $30 million a year like the market demands. The 49ers are paying George Kittle and Deebo Samuel big money and just invested a first-round pick in the unit by drafting WR Ricky Pearsall out of Florida.
Trading Aiyuk for picks would be a tough take for the 49ers because they’re built to win the Super Bowl bowl not five years down the road. While Aiyuk is a younger, better option than Cooper right now, the current Browns wideout could pick up the production that Aiyuk leaves behind.
Cooper had 1,250 receiving yards on 128 targets in 2024, while Aiyuk had 1,342 yards on 105 targets. Cleveland makes this trade because it gives them a younger wideout that they would feel comfortable giving. Cooper will play in his age-30 season in 2024, while Aiyuk is just 26.
Cleveland can pay Aiyuk and make the cap hit minimal for the 2024 season. On the other hand, the 49ers won’t feel a lot of drop-off from their X wide receiver with the route-running ability that Cooper will bring to negate the loss of Aiyuk.
Perhaps both teams figure something out with their own wide receiver and none of this matters. It feels as if Cooper and Cleveland will reach a deal, they kind of have to unless they can swing a trade like this. San Francisco may be more inclined to move Aiyuk since they are set up better to do so. A call to Cleveland for the 49ers makes a lot of sense to start with.
