Browns seem like an unlikely landing spot but Brandon Aiyuk still being on the market is noteworthy
Some NFL rumors only die on the vine when a move is actually made. All offseason, QB Kirk Cousins was rumored to be the Cleveland Browns next starting quarterback. Then the Atlanta Falcons picked up his contract option but even that didn’t stop the trade rumors.
At least for the Browns, signing Joe Flacco seemed to put the nail in the Cousins rumor coffin. Drafting Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders threw dirt on it.
Now, we get to revisit Brandon Aiyuk trade rumors.
Aiyuk, in the midst of contract negotiations, was the primary rumor for Cleveland, the New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers last offseason as both talked trade with the San Francisco 49ers. In the end, Aiyuk signed a new contract to stay in the Bay Area, only to end up right back on the trade block, according to at least one report, this offseason.
Much like Cousins, there was a key date on Aiyuk’s contract in early April, where the team would have to guarantee all of the receiver’s 2025 and 2026 salaries. Once the Niners made that decision, most assumed Aiyuk would be back for the next two seasons with the WR due $27 million guaranteed in 2026.
According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, San Francisco would love to get rid of the contract in a trade with the Steelers:
.@ProFootballTalk on @937theFan “The 49ers would love to unload Brandon Aiyuk’s contract on the Steelers.”
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) May 7, 2025
Much like the Falcons, it seems the 49ers decided it was worth the risk to pick up their player’s option and either keep them around or find a trade partner to take on a chunk of the deal in exchange for compensation. The salary cap hit for San Francisco is one reason no deal will happen before June 1st:
- Pre-June 1st trade cap hit – $37.9 million
- Post-June 1st trade cap hit – $8.3 million
Given that the timing of when Cleveland will get salary cap space from releasing Juan Thornhill and Dalvin Tomlinson and when an Aiyuk trade is palatable for the Niners, we could see an uptick in rumors of the Browns bringing in the receiver.
Wide receiver is currently noted as Cleveland’s biggest roster hole, with newly released Gabe Davis among the best options to fill it. Aiyuk would provide a speed threat for the big-armed Flacco while raising the floor of the offense. Adding Aiyuk to Jerry Jeudy, David Njoku, Cedric Tillman, Harold Fannin Jr., Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson would give Gabriel and Sanders a better chance to develop and succeed as well.
According to Spotrac, the Browns would only add $1.5 million to their salary cap in 2025 by trading a draft pick for Aiyuk. In seven games before tearing his ACL, Aiyuk caught 25 passes for 374 yards. In 2023, his best season, Aiyuk had 75 receptions for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns with an impressive 17.9 yards per reception average.
Aiyuk’s first three seasons before his breakout campaign showed good progression, raising his yardage totals three straight years: 748, 826 and 1,015.
Whether Florio’s report is just the start of more Aiyuk rumors or the final bit of smoke around the receiver’s availability, Cleveland would still be a good fit for the deep play receiver.
What is your interest level in an Aiyuk trade? Would you trade a 4th-round pick in 2026 and pick up half of his 2026 contract? Less or more of either of those?
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