From July of 2024 until May of 2025, DBN had written or Dawg Chow’d 17 articles pertaining to the possibility of the Cleveland Browns acquiring San Francisco 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk. Aiyuk’s future was a huge part of the offseason rumors last year, not just for the Browns, but they were a big part. Instead, the talented receiver signed a contract extension with the 49ers after having little interest in playing for Cleveland and, seemingly, trying to force his way to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Things
haven’t gone with in San Fran for Aiyuk or the team since that time.
Last year, Aiyuk caught just 25 passes for 374 yards in seven games before tearing multiple ligaments in his knee. The speedster has not returned to the field over a year later, leaving many to question whether he could regain the form that led to his 1,300-yard breakout season in 2023.
According to a report, that hasn’t been the only problem and any rebirth to Aiyuk’s career won’t be happening with the Niners:
Aiyuk, sources say, has failed to attend meetings and declined to participate in other team activities in recent months, and the 49ers have grown increasingly frustrated with the receiver’s lack of communication.
The 49ers, sources say, responded by voiding the guaranteed money in Aiyuk’s contract for 2026, asserting that the absences amounted to a failure to fulfill his contractual obligations. Aiyuk, according to multiple league sources, told NFL Players Association representatives that he did not want to fight the move via an official grievance. That would clear the way for his expected release at season’s end.
That Aiyuk is not interested in fighting the voiding of his guarantees shows how disconnected from the team he is and how much he wants to move on.
Historically, GM Andrew Berry has been persistent in his pursuit of players. DE Jadeveon Clowney rebuffed the Browns in free agency one year only to sign and then re-sign with the team. DE Takk McKinley was a trade target before ultimately signing with Cleveland in free agency.
Even the ill-fated trade for QB Deshaun Watson was partially thanks to Berry’s persistence in the process.
It remains to be seen if Berry will still be in charge of the Browns roster when Aiyuk and San Francisco split in the offseason, but especially if he is, Cleveland taking a one-year flyer on the former top receiver would make a lot of sense for a team lacking speed and high-end talent on offense.
