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Wouldn’t it be great if there was more honesty in sports interviews? More “I’m here so I don’t get fined,” or as Browns DC Jim Schwartz put it yesterday, “What can I be vague and noncommittal about?”
Today’s newsletter:
- 🤝 The evolving Aiyuk saga
- 😀 A happy Stefon Diggs
- 👀 Dallas QB to watch
- 📈 Good vibes in Vegas
Brandon Aiyuk Trade: Three Potential Landing Spots
When 49ers star receiver Brandon Aiyuk participates in his first practice this offseason, it will likely be in one of three cities: San Francisco, Cleveland or Pittsburgh.
One option missing: New England. Possibly the team most motivated to land a No. 1 receiver, they had the cap space ($43 million in 2024 with more in future years) to pay the 26-year-old’s $30 million average asking price. The 49ers and Patriots had reportedly agreed on a trade that may have included former 49er WR Kendrick Bourne and/or pass rusher Matthew Judon, along with a 2025 second-round pick.
So, why not New England? It appears Aiyuk refused a Patriots deal, though technically Adam Schefter reported “the Patriots have decided not to explore any further trade possibilities.” Remember, for the 49ers to complete a deal, Aiyuk must agree to sign with his new team. He has leverage.
In the Bay Area, Aiyuk is no closer to a deal with the 49ers and has said publicly that if he went elsewhere, his preference would be the Steelers or Commanders. Washington is out, while Pittsburgh is reportedly back in. That leaves three options:
Traded to Cleveland: There’s also a deal in place here, which makes sense, given the Browns’ urgency to become immediate contenders. Any deal would likely mean WR Amari Cooper heads to the 49ers. While Cleveland currently has $29.6 million in cap space this year, they are $60 million above the cap in 2025. If Aiyuk joins the Browns, I want their accountants on “Hard Knocks.” Remember: This team also previously traded for a 26-year-old star receiver on a large contract; they did exactly that with Odell Beckham Jr. in 2018. Perhaps this works out better?
Traded to Pittsburgh: This strikes me as the most complicated deal, as the 49ers haven’t been thrilled with the Steelers’ offers, but it’s where Aiyuk wants to be. This gives Pittsburgh some leverage, but in order to bring in a receiver opposite George Pickens, they’ll need to sweeten their offer. When The Athletic’s staff looked at trade proposals, Mark Kaboly had edge rusher Alex Highsmith and OT Dan Moore Jr. heading to San Francisco, but added that it’s highly unlikely Highsmith is moved.
Returns to San Francisco: As Ted Kawakami writes, losing Aiyuk would be a massive failure. There are two ways they keep him: Either the brass forks over the extra few million per year (they’ve reportedly offered $26 million) or he caves, playing out the final year of his deal before entering free agency next season (though he’d be risking a franchise tag). Make no mistake, they can make the numbers work, as any Brock Purdy extension can be structured to minimize the early cap hits.
If it’s primarily money he’s after, New England made sense. If it’s winning, he’ll stay in San Francisco. A mix of both? Cleveland, with Pittsburgh a close second. With three options left on the table and the 49ers unwilling to budge, it’s your move, Brandon.
What Dianna’s Hearing: Diggs digging everything about the Texans
While many are wondering what’s next for Aiyuk, this week I spent some time with and around a star receiver who’s already made his move: Stefon Diggs.
I spent the past two days in Cleveland, where the Texans are practicing while they prepare for a Friday night game in Pittsburgh. (By the way, Houston, more Texans content is coming soon to the Scoop City universe.) Diggs and I discussed his — no shocker here — excitement over C.J. Stroud. Also not a surprise: the Stroud-to-Diggs connection looked outstanding on the field.
What’s a little more noteworthy is the leadership role he’s embracing on a team that already had two really good young receivers in Nico Collins and Tank Dell. Receivers coach Ben McDaniels told me that Diggs has been a vocal leader in what has been a very professional receivers room. When I asked Diggs about Collins, Dell and the rest of the Texans’ young talent, his smile grew wider and wider.
It’s summer, change is good, and we tend to get carried away with optimism this time of year. But I’ll say this: I’ve covered Diggs since he was at the University of Maryland, and this week was the happiest I’ve ever seen him.
Back to you, Jacob.
Camp Intel: LA, Dallas and Vegas
Yesterday, I had training-camp questions for two of The Athletic’s beat reporters in Los Angeles and Dallas. Both shed light on their respective teams:
Starting in L.A., the Rams camp has been injury-plagued, but are there any starters in danger of missing Week 1?
💬 Jourdan Rodrigue: “I think I most worry about starting left guard Jonah Jackson missing Week 1 because his week-to-week designation for his shoulder injury seemed to hold a broader timeline than the other two linemen. I’m not worried about Puka Nacua (knee) missing relevant time.”
Over to Dallas: Let’s pause the contract talk for a second. Which Cowboys player are you most eager to see in the preseason?
💬 Jon Machota: “QB Trey Lance. A big reason is because he’s expected to play a lot. While we’ve been able to watch him in practice situations, it’ll be interesting to see how he performs in the Cowboys’ offense in live action. Lance has been up and down during camp practices. He really hasn’t done anything to make you think he would help the Cowboys win more games than No. 2 Cooper Rush, if Dak Prescott went down. But that could change if Lance plays well in preseason games. Remember, Prescott didn’t exactly lock up an eventual starting spot his rookie year because of what he did in camp. It was how well he played in the preseason.”
Vibe in Vegas 📈: Antonio Pierce keeps spirits high
After replacing HC Josh McDaniels with interim HC Antonio Pierce last season, the Raiders finished 5-4. More importantly, the season ended with the local Vegas crowd chanting “AP” while star players voiced their desire to retain Pierce as head coach. As Vic Tafur wrote, Pierce is exactly what the historically edgy franchise needs – the opposite of the stoic Patriot way.
This offseason, the players’ coach is thinking broader, specifically of his assistant coaches — a group that includes familiar names like Rob Ryan, Marvin Lewis and Joe Philbin — requiring them to join a scaled-down version of the players’ conditioning test, with interval runs, on-field drills and weight-room bars.
Players loved it: “Old people on the bikes and stuff thinking they’re really running, but they’re not. Big Rob [Ryan] was the funniest,” said OT Thayer Munford Jr.
It’s all about the vibes in Vegas, with Pierce continuing to find ways to bring the team together. Unfortunately, a great culture alone doesn’t guarantee the Raiders win a playoff game for the first time in 21 years, especially with a band-aid solution at quarterback.
Around the NFL
The Seahawks and free-agent C Connor Williams agreed to a one-year contract worth $6 million. The 27-year-old is one of the NFL’s better centers, having ranked fourth at his position in PFF grade (86.4), but is recovering from a late-season ACL tear.
Seahawks TE Noah Fant left yesterday’s practice with a foot injury. No further update yet on the team’s starting tight end.
The Cardinals won’t play QB Kyler Murray this preseason, while the 49ers‘ RB Christian McCaffrey will also miss the preseason with a calf strain. 👀
The Ravens signed former Falcons and Buccaneers WR Russell Gage, 28, as added depth for their receiver room.
Lions CB Emmanuel Moseley suffered a torn pectoral and is out indefinitely, a brutal setback for a player who tore his ACL in Week 1 last year and missed the entire season. He also tore his ACL in 2022.
Jacob’s Picks
📕 NFL players love Pilates. Charlotte Carroll explains why. (The Athletic)
📺 Why Aiyuk deserves a raise. Reception Perception’s Matt Harmon and Matt Waldman discussed the 49ers receiver — whom they called a dynasty riser — late last season. (YouTube)
🎙 Same team, different DNA. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen explore players who change the fabric of their teams, like Puka Nacua did for the Rams last season. (The Athletic Football Show)
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(Photo: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images)
