The Browns Are Better Off Without Brandon Aiyuk
Credit: Daniel Bartel-USA TODAY Sports
Brandon Aiyuk’s contract drama has reached a breaking point, as the star receiver is actively looking to be traded from the 49ers. The saga has become so intense that a trade was about to take place in Cleveland, of all places.
The 49ers reportedly were ready to send WR Brandon Aiyuk to the Browns for Amari Cooper, a second-round pick, and a fifth-round pick — but Aiyuk put the kibosh on the deal. https://t.co/36tAfuvgfq
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) August 10, 2024
However, Aiyuk turned down the deal, citing the fact that the Cleveland Browns are not one of his preferred destinations.(Although, as always, there are rumors of financial distance between the parties)
In a day in age where wide receivers are exploding in value, Aiyuk has a golden opportunity to become a No. 1 receiver for a team that is willing to pay him his desired salary. If he stays in San Francisco in 2024, he will once again find himself as a part of a loaded offense that has Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and rookie Ricky Pearsall as weapons. In 2023, Aiyuk posted a career high of 1,342 yards.
Amari Cooper, on the other hand, is entering the last year of his 5 year, $100 million contract. While Aiyuk outgained Cooper by 92 yards last season, their production is nearly identical over the last two seasons. Since 2022, Aiyuk has 153 receptions, 2,357 yards, and 15 touchdowns, while Cooper has 150 receptions, 2,410 yards, and 14 touchdowns.
Acquiring Aiyuk would require the Browns to extend him to the big-money contract that he is looking for. Per Spotrac, Aiyuk’s market value is approximately $27.5 million, and he would likely garner a four-year extension. Not to mention, the Browns are still in the process of figuring out if Deshaun Watson is their long-term franchise quarterback, despite the fact his cap hit will be over $64 million in each of the next three seasons.
The Browns have a reliable weapon with proven chemistry for Watson in Cooper, even with Watson not being the most consistent quarterback in their time together. With Watson under center, Cooper has 51 catches for 870 yards and four touchdowns in 12 games.
In addition, Cleveland just signed Jerry Jeudy to a three-year, $52 million extension, $41 million of which is guaranteed. Adding Aiyuk at the price he’s demanding would likely mean the Browns would have to dedicate over $100 million in cap space to three players in their passing offense.
They also would have had to part ways with their second and fifth-round draft picks. For a team that gave up so much valuable draft capital to acquire Watson, enabling the Houston Texans to add jet fuel to their rebuild engine, this is unacceptable. An inability to acquire younger players out of the draft would hurt the team’s chances at extending their Super Bowl window.
The Browns would have to acclimate Aiyuk to the offense in what seems like record time. Especially now that training camp is underway, it would have been a massive mistake to take away a heavily productive and familiar target in Cooper. However, while the Browns will likely be better off having Cooper around in 2024, he posted an Instagram story that has led many to believe that the feeling is not mutual.
Amari Cooper may be ready for a change of scenery? 👀 pic.twitter.com/YUgxjNt7RF
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) August 10, 2024
Oh, no…
When asked if they’ve had conversations with Cooper regarding the post, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski and 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan both remained secretive.
“I think you probably know me well enough to say I don’t discuss my conversations with players,” Stefanski said.
“I’ve met with Brandon a bunch here since we started out camp,” Shanahan said. “I’m not going to get into any personal things between us.”
In a world where some Cleveland fans were hoping that they would emerge winners of the Aiyuk sweepstakes, it seems that Aiyuk himself has rejected that idea. As a result, both the Browns’ and the 49ers’ receiver corps will, at least for the moment, remain unchanged. After spending an entire offseason preparing to play with the Browns, keeping the roster as is will be the best course of action for GM Andrew Berry.
Cooper will be leaned on as the Browns figure out their offense under new offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, and as Watson enters a year where he has about as much to prove as any quarterback in the league. Cooper, who made his fifth trip to the Pro Bowl last season, will lead a wide receiver corps that consists of himself, Jeudy, Elijah Moore, David Bell, Cedric Tillman, and rookie Jamari Thrash. Even without Aiyuk, this group should thrive.
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