Amari Cooper seemingly responds to 49ers-Browns trade report

Hours after Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reported that veteran wide receiver Amari Cooper was part of a trade package the Cleveland Browns offered to the San Francisco 49ers for Brandon Aiyuk, Cooper posted a cryptic message on his Instagram story.

It read, "lol I wouldn't mind at all."


Given the timing, many—including respected Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com—believe Cooper was responding to the trade report.

Of course, that doesn't matter anymore. Maiocco reports that Aiyuk, uninterested in playing for the Browns, effectively vetoed the trade. The proposed package reportedly included Cooper, a second-round pick, and a fifth-round pick in exchange for Aiyuk. While Aiyuk's contract doesn't include a no-trade clause, the unhappy receiver can derail any trade by refusing to sign a contract extension with a new team, as seems to be the case with Cleveland.

Aiyuk, set to earn $14.124 million on a team-exercised fifth-year option, is seeking a contract to make him one of the NFL's highest-paid players. He has already turned down a reported $32 million-per-year offer from the New England Patriots, who, like the Browns, had a trade framework in place with the 49ers.

The 49ers' last offer to Aiyuk is believed to be in the $26 million annual range, a figure they had not been willing to exceed. However, the team reportedly restarted contract talks with their star receiver this week, potentially reopening the door for Aiyuk to remain in the Bay Area.

After negotiations with the 49ers stalled, Aiyuk requested a trade before reporting to training camp. While he would likely welcome a move to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the AFC team has been unable to present the 49ers with a compelling enough trade package, likely due to their inability or unwillingness to include an immediate-impact player.