The Patriots are no longer exploring a trade for Aiyuk, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports that the Patriots met the 49ers' trade demands and had a large contract offer on the table, but a deal didn't work out because Aiyuk wasn't willing to sign with New England. The Steelers and Browns are now thought to be the main teams pursuing the 26-year-old wideout, with earlier reports suggesting Cleveland might offer wideout Amari Cooper as part of a trade. Pittsburgh wouldn't be able to offer a comparable wide receiver -- assuming George Pickens is off the table -- but might be able to make up the difference with additional draft capital and/or players at other positions. It's also still possible Aiyuk and the 49ers come to an agreement on an extension, although there's certainly some awkwardness involved after months of tense negotiations and now open trade talks.

The Steelers and 49ers have re-engaged in trade talks Tuesday regarding a potential deal for Aiyuk, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

It was reported as of Monday night that San Francisco had trade frameworks in place with both the Patriots and Browns, but that both the Steelers and Commanders had dropped out of the mix at that time. It appears that Pittsburgh, a destination that Aiyuk previously named as a preference if he were to leave the 49ers, per Chad Graff of The Athletic, are now more willing to match the offers put forth by New England and Cleveland. All interested teams still have to overcome the hurdle of meeting Aiyuk's contract demands before a trade can be fully hammered out, but if Aiyuk truly is interested in the Steelers as a landing spot, that could provide momentum to get a deal done with Pittsburgh. Previous reports suggested the Browns and Patriots would include a veteran wideout in return as part of the deal, with Amari Cooper and Kendrick Bourne (knee) being floated respectively, but behind top receiver George Pickens, the Steelers only have unproven names like Van Jefferson, Roman Wilson (ankle) and Calvin Austin on the depth chart. That could mean a deal with Pittsburgh would involve increased draft capital as compensation. Aiyuk remains present, but is not practicing, at 49ers training camp.

The 49ers have a framework in place to trade Aiyuk to the Patriots or Browns if he can agree to a contract with either team, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

The two teams reportedly are wiling to meet San Francisco's trade demands but haven't yet met Aiyuk's contract demands. Both agreements presumably need to be hammered out before a trade is completed, with Jets edge rush Haason Reddick providing a cautionary example about trading for a player that's in a contract year and seeking a new deal. Previous reports suggested the 49ers would be more willing to trade Aiyuk if they get a veteran wideout as part of the return, with Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer suggesting Amari Cooper could be involved in any deal with the Browns. Kendrick Bourne (knee) has also been mentioned in relation to a trade with the Patriots, in part because he spent the first four seasons of his career with the 49ers. A trade involving Bourne rather than Cooper presumably would entail far more draft compensation, as the former is still working his way back from the ACL tear he suffered Oct. 29 last season and has had a significantly less impressive career to date. It's also possible these recent reports could inspire another team to up its offer for Aiyuk, although any new suitor would also face the same hurdle of needing to work out a contract with him prior to trading for him. Aiyuk requested a trade in mid-July and has been present at 49ers training camp but is not practicing.

The 49ers aren't likely to trade Aiyuk for only draft picks but may be willing to deal him if a veteran wide receiver is part of the return, Matt Maiocco of the NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

EDGE Analysis

The problem then becomes that most teams with quality WRs aren't looking to trade them for a player who is in his contract year and holding out for a massive new deal. Maiocco mentions the Browns (and Amari Cooper) as a possible exception, along with the Patriots (and Kendrick Bourne), though the latter wouldn't come anywhere close to making up for the loss of Aiyuk. For now, Aiyuk remains a "hold in" at 49ers training camp, limited to attending meetings and watching practices. Contract negotiations are ongoing, as has seemingly been the case for much of the spring and summer.

Aiyuk is present at training camp Wednesday but isn't dressed for practice, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Though he's reported from training camp, Aiyuk looks to be "holding in" and thus abstaining from team drills as he continues to look for a contract extension. Coming off a breakout season in which he put up a 75-1,342-7 receiving line on 105 targets in 15 games, Aiyuk has expressed frustration with the fact that he remains without a long-term deal, and he went so far as to officially request a trade prior to the start of camp. Still, considering Aiyuk's lack of leverage, the most likely outcome remains that he plays out the 2024 season in a 49ers uniform, whether on the fifth-year option on his rookie contract or a new deal.

Aiyuk, who officially requested a trade last week, is present for the start of 49ers training camp Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

Aiyuk will be among veterans reporting to team facilities Tuesday for San Francisco, despite his outspoken desire for a new contract and recent request for a trade. Showing up will allow Aiyuk to avoid fines, as teams are required to penalize players on their rookie contracts $40,000 per day missed of camp, but he could still opt to work on the sidelines rather than participate in on-field team drills. That wouldn't be a surprising choice, as it would allow Aiyuk to maintain some leverage and avoid injury despite being physically present. Commanders GM Adam Peters said Tuesday that Aiyuk is unlikely to end up in Washington via trade, Sam Fortier of The Washington Post reports, but expect the situation regarding any potential trades to continually unfold. Aiyuk has also been the subject of trade rumors surrounding the Steelers, Patriots and Broncos, among others, this offseason, but he remains scheduled to play the 2024 season in San Francisco via the fifth-year option on his rookie contract.

Commanders GM Adam Peters said Aiyuk is unlikely to end up in Washington, Sam Fortier of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Frustrated with extension contract negotiations, Aiyuk requested a trade earlier this month. Washington has been oft-mentioned as a fit due to the wideout's friendship with the Commanders' new franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels as well as the team's shaky wideout depth behind Terry McLaurin, but it doesn't sound like the front office has any expectation of making such a splashy trade before the start of the season. Scheduled to play out 2024 under the fifth-year option on his rookie contract, Aiyuk may hold out from training camp even though he'd accrue $50,000 in mandatory fines each day.

Aiyuk officially requested a trade from the 49ers on Tuesday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

Aiyuk's trade requests follows a tumultuous offseason, and though his recent meeting with the team was reported to have gone well, the star wideout is now looking to force San Francisco's hand with training camp just around the corner. It now seems realistic that Aiyuk, who is currently positioned to play out the 2024 season on a $14.12 million salary under the fifth-year option of his rookie deal, could hold out of training camp if no trade comes quickly to fruition. The 49ers selected Ricky Pearsall in the first round of April's draft, giving the team a pivot option behind top wideout Deebo Samuel should Aiyuk move on, and also brought back Jauan Jennings on a two-year deal.

Aiyuk recently told The Pivot podcast that he wants and expects to play for the 49ers this season despite being frustrated with contract negotiations at times.

EDGE Analysis

"If I were to take a guess, probably a Niners uniform," Aiyuk said. "But if not a Niners uniform, probably a Washington Commander uniform. " Aiyuk said there have been times when he thought he was close to signing a new contract but also other moments where it felt the two sides were far apart. He met with the 49ers last Monday, and he then told The Pivot podcast that he's currently "in the right place, with the right quarterback" but "not on the right terms." Even though Aiyuk mentioned teaming up with close friend Jayden Daniels, the new QB in Washington, it sounds like the wideout still prefers San Francisco if he can get the contract he wants (or something close to it).

Aiyuk and the 49ers had a meeting Monday that Tom Pelissero of NFL Network described as "good," and both sides are continuing to work toward a contract extension, Grant Gordon of NFL.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Aiyuk, who held out of mandatory minicamp earlier this month, requested a meeting with San Francisco roughly one week after posting a video in which he told Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, whom he played with at Arizona State, that the 49ers "said they don't want me back," per Nick Wagoner of ESPN. It seems things have landed in a more amicable place following Monday's most recent meeting, though there still aren't any signs that an agreement on a new contract is immediately around the corner. As it stands, Aiyuk remains in line to play under the fifth-year option on his rookie contract for $14.12 million for 2025, but if that doesn't change by the start of training camp tensions could come to a head, especially if he continues to hold out. The 26-year-old is coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving campaigns and has been one of the most efficient wide receivers in the league in Kyle Shanahan offenses.