The Cleveland Browns had a quality opening round of the NFL draft on Thursday, and things went their way at the top of Round 2 as well.
Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk of the San Francisco 49ers has been on the trade block all offseason long. However, with no deal materializing yet, it is looking more and more likely that the 49ers will release Aiyuk into free agency sooner than later.
San Francisco made that path even more likely by selecting pass-catcher De’Zhuan Stribling of Ole Miss with the opening selection of Round 2 on Friday, April 24.
“The 49ers want to get younger where they are older in this draft. Receiver is a prime spot for that. Mike Evans is 32, Christian Kirk is 29,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on social media. “De’Zhaun Stribling is 23 and can fly.”
That is a great development for the Browns, even after Cleveland drafted wideout KC Concepcion from Texas A&M with the No. 24 overall pick in Round 1 last night and followed that up with Denzel Boston of Washington in Round 2.
Concepcion will likely play mostly in the slot, with Boston functioning as a true outside receiver, though both can play all three wide receiver spots well.
Brandon Aiyuk Has Resisted Idea of Joining Browns Before
GettySan Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
The Browns pursued a trade for Aiyuk in 2024, at which point the receiver resisted the move to Cleveland.
“The hold up with Cleveland all along has been Brandon Aiyuk’s willingness to accept a trade to the Browns,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported in August 2024. “The contract would’ve been done there if he wanted to go.”
Much has changed in the two years since, however. Aiyuk played seven games in the 2024 campaign before blowing out his knee. Contention over the rehabilitation process and Aiyuk’s lack of compliance with the team’s plan led the 49ers to void all of the guaranteed money in 2026 that was previously included in Aiyuk’s $120 million contract.
Niners general manager John Lynch has also since acknowledged that Aiyuk is unlikely to ever play another snap for the franchise.
Brandon Aiyuk Signing Would Give Browns Option to Move on From Jerry Jeudy
GettyCleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy.
Aiyuk’s market value is one year at just north of $12 million, per Spotrac, which should render him plenty affordable if Cleveland decides to add a third WR to a group bereft of talent in 2025.
The presence of Boston on the roster now makes an Aiyuk acquisition considerably less likely, but signing him would also render Jerry Jeudy expendable via a trade.
Jeudy and quarterback Shedeur Sanders butted heads publicly on the sidelines multiple times last season. Meanwhile, Jeudy’s production plummeted from 2024 to 2025.
Aiyuk was a second-team All-Pro in 2023 and could offer the Browns a high-end No. 1 option in the pass game while Concepcion and Boston develop over their rookie years.
And if Cleveland isn’t ultra competitive by mid-season, Aiyuk might be a player the team could flip for a mid-round draft pick to a contender with whom Aiyuk may be willing to ink a longterm deal if he can find production and rebuild his value with the Browns over the first half of the season.
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