49ers' agreed frameworks with Browns, Patriots reaffirm suspicion about motivation behind Brandon Aiyuk trade talks

On the surface, the San Francisco 49ers agreeing frameworks for a trade of Brandon Aiyuk with the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots would appear to make a parting with the wide receiver appear a near-certainty.

NBC Sports Bay Area's Matt Maiocco reported on Monday that the 49ers had agreed those frameworks with the Browns and Patriots. However, more pertinent to San Francisco's actual motivation in allowing Aiyuk to speak to other teams is the information Maiocco added afterwards.

Maiocco said that the Washington Commanders , who along with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Browns and Patriots, were given the green light to speak with Aiyuk, removed themselves from the conversation. On top of that, Maiocco reported that the Steelers "are effectively no longer an option" after refusing to meet the Niners' demands.

Aiyuk had previously said in an appearance on 'The Pivot' podcast that, if he wasn't wearing a 49er uniform this season he would likely be wearing either a Commanders uniform or a Steelers uniform. Aiyuk also expressed excitement at the prospect of potentially reuniting with former Arizona State teammate Jayden Daniels in Washington.

The Browns and Patriots are evidently not among Aiyuk's preferred destinations, but the narrowing down of potential trade candidates to those two teams reaffirms a suspicion about what the 49ers' gameplan is with giving the go-ahead to trade talks.

I wrote on Monday that it was likely the 49ers, by allowing Aiyuk to see what's out there, are in essence, calling his bluff with the trade request he submitted last month, asking him to see if the contracts offered to him by those teams are sufficient for him to accept playing on a roster inferior to that of San Francisco.

Now, with the Steelers and Commanders out of the equation, Aiyuk is left to decide whether he wants to hold his nose and make the move to a team he has not stated any desire to join.

Aiyuk knows his best chance to win a Super Bowl is with the 49ers. It's not out of the question he could win one with a very talented Browns roster, but he is essentially stuck between a rock and a hard place. The 49ers will hope the uncomfortable position he is now in will lead him to accept contract terms that are more favorable to them long term.

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