Who could the Browns send to the 49ers for Brandon Aiyuk? (2024)

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Dec 24, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper (2) signs autographs for fans after the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Cooper makes sense only if you think about a wide receiver for wide receiver swap. However, financially it makes next to none.

The Browns have already restructured Cooper’s contract, so they would have to eat $7.5 million in dead money this year, and $22.5 million in dead money next year to part ways. Cooper’s base salary in 2024 is already at the veteran minimum plus the incentives the Browns baked into his new deal. If the Browns traded Cooper for Aiyuk, they’d basically be handing the Niners a fully paid-off wide receiver.

Sep 22, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) celebrates after a touchdown by wide receiver Amari Cooper (not pictured) during the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelersat FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-USA TODAY Sports

The caveat here is that Jack Conklin is still on the Physically Unable to Perform list and would need activated before he could be dealt. However, with the emergence of Dawand Jones and the fully guaranteed fifth-year (and restrucutured contract) of Jedrick Wills, the Browns have their starting offensive tackles.

Meanwhile, the 49ers have a massive gap at the right tackle position. While Conklin has had a great deal of injury history throughout his career, he has been nothing but solid when on the field. Could the appeal of bookending their offensive line with Trent Williams and Conklin be of intrigue for the Niners?

CLEVELAND, OHIO – DECEMBER 10: Greg Newsome II #0 of the Cleveland Browns reacts after an interception intended for Calvin Ridley #0 of the Jacksonville Jaguars during the fourth quarter at Cleveland Browns Stadium on December 10, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Similar to Conklin, Newsome II would need to be activated before he could be traded, and after just having surgery on his hamstring just over a week ago, the timeline may not work out here. However, Newsome II has started in the slot for the last two seasons for the Browns, but the Browns have also seen Cameron Mitchell have success there as well when Newsome has been sidelined.

The bigger issue is that Newsome II can also play outside when Denzel Ward gets sidelined, a void the Browns would not have a backup for if the former first rounder out of Northwestern were dealt.

CLEVELAND, OHIO – OCTOBER 01: Wyatt Teller #77 of the Cleveland Browns runs onto the field prior to a game against the Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns Stadium on October 01, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

This would be the worst case scenario for the Browns.

Wyatt Teller was the only member of the Browns’ offensive line a year ago to play all 17 games, and he performed the best of the bunch as well. While the Browns just drafted Zak Zinter this past offseason to become a future starter inside, All-Pro Joel Bitonio is no longer a young man either. I maintain that Teller is closer to an extension than he is to getting moved this offseason or next.

Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah pictured on the sideline during minicamp, Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Berea.

Currently waiting on a new contract entering the last year of his rookie deal in Cleveland, linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah could be moved. And it could be more realistic than people want to believe. Likely looking at around $13-15 million per year on his next contract, the Browns have never given that kind of money to a linebacker.

Pair that with the absence of Dre Greenlaw this year for the Niners, who suffered a torn achilles in the Super Bowl, and there is a big reason why Owusu-Koramoah could have a huge appeal to John Lynch and his staff in the Bay Area.

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 12: Elijah Moore #8 of the Cleveland Browns catches a pass against the Baltimore Ravens during the second quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on November 12, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

The Browns already added Jerry Jeudy this offseason, relegating Elijah Moore (who was acquired in a pick swap last year) to WR3/4 in this offense. If the Browns go out and get Aiyuk as well, another wide receiver would lose significant snaps. That wideout would be Elijah Moore.

There is not a reason to think that his value would be extraordinary, but he could be a supplemental chip in the trade.

Nov 19, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) runs the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports