The San Francisco 49ers reportedly have approved two different trade frameworks for star receiver Brandon Aiyuk, including both the New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns.
There's a chance San Francisco is doing right by Aiyuk and allowing him to determine which team (if any?) he gets traded to. But if Aiyuk is content with either landing spot, and if the Niners are to have the final say (very well could happen), it's likely Aiyuk will be traded to an organization that offers the best package in return.
Might that be the Patriots?
According to NBC Sports Bay Area's Mike Maiocco, who published the bombshell Aiyuk report Monday night, the 49ers likely would acquire a veteran wide receiver and a package of draft picks from whichever team. Maiocco did not report how many draft picks, or which round those selections would be.
Maiocco did, however, hint wide receiver Amari Cooper could be the veteran wideout from Cleveland and wrote the Patriots are "expected" to include veteran Kendrick Bourne.
Would the win-now 49ers prefer Cooper or Bourne? That feels like an inarguable debate, right? It's got to be Cooper.
Cooper, who enters his age-30 season, has been lauded as a route-running savant. He's eclipsed the 1,000-yard receiving threshold in seven of his nine NFL seasons. The 2015 first-rounder is coming off a 2023 campaign in which he caught 72 balls for 1,250 yards. And the year prior, his first in Cleveland, Cooper caught 78 balls for 1,160 yards and nine touchdowns.
Bourne, who enters his age-29 season, does not come close to that production. His best season came with the Patriots in 2021, after he left San Francisco. He finished with 55 catches for 800 yards and five touchdowns. And Bourne also currently is on New England's physically unable to perform list after he suffered a torn ACL last season. He was limited to eight games.
The Browns have that advantage. But is it enough? New England, after all, has the edge when it comes to the draft capital.
The Patriots, who reportedly offered the Niners their second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft for Aiyuk, are again expected to have a high draft pick. New England's projected win total is a mere 4.5 games, and while that might be a little low it nevertheless indicates the expectations of the team.
Could the Patriots land in the top 5 again? The top 10? It feels like it.
Cleveland competes in the AFC North, arguably the toughest division in the league, but still has the roster to contend for a playoff spot. The Browns qualified for the postseason last year despite their injury-caused carousel at the quarterback position. Their defense is postseason-worthy and there's always a chance quarterback Deshaun Watson returns to form. With that, Cleveland doesn't feel like a team that will be picking in the top 10.
That's a big advantage for the Patriots.
We'll see if that's enough to land Aiyuk, though.
