49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk Declined Trade to Browns Despite Massive Contract Offer

The Cleveland Browns made a considerable offer to 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, but he declined, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The Browns restructured quarterback Deshaun Watson’s contract on Thursday, a move that freed up over $35 million in salary cap space for Cleveland.

The Browns now have financial flexibility and the restructure of Watson’s deal provides more than $62 million in cap space, the most in the league.

Cleveland certainly has the resources to acquire Aiyuk, but according to Schefter, the 49ers star receiver doesn’t want to join the Browns.

“They [Cleveland Browns] were already offering more money than Pittsburgh, more money than San Francisco. That wasn’t the issue,” Schefter said on The Pat McAfee show Thursday. “The issue simply was that he preferred to go elsewhere. I don’t ever rule out that Brandon Aiyuk couldn’t change his mind today, but I haven’t heard that he is. If I heard today that he was being traded with Cleveland, would it shock me? It would surprise me, but in this particular situation nothing, nothing has been what you thought it would be.”

Schefter said that the Browns were ready to add Aiyuk to the roster at the beginning of August, but the deal fizzled out.

“On Thursday, August 1, I thought a trade to Cleveland was happening. It was imminent, and then it didn’t get done. And so the holdup with Cleveland all along, hasn’t been whether or not the Browns have cap space. The holdup there has Brandon Aiyuk’s willingness to accept a trade to Cleveland. I would venture to tell you that there has never been a case as unpredictable as the one that has gone on this summer between the 49ers and Brandon Aiyuk.”

Every situation that hints toward a final decision with Aiyuk has gone awry. Reports swirled that the receiver would land with a number of NFL teams including Cleveland, the Washington Commanders, the New England Patriots, and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Reports then surfaced that San Francisco was securing a long-term deal with the Arizona State alum. That progress also fell through.

Nothing has come to fruition. Whether he is traded to another team or remains in the Bay, fans are desperate for a move to be finalized.

The contract situation with Aiyuk is certainly the saga of the summer. It’s still ambiguous whether the story will reach its denouement before the regular season commences.

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