The Cleveland Browns are entering a monumental offseason in 2026, as the team went 5-12 this season and parted ways with head coach Kevin Stefanski on Monday.
A new head coach will be a major storyline in Cleveland, but the quarterback situation is going to take center stage. The Browns shuffled through multiple starters in 2025, including rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel.
Sanders finished the season for Cleveland and showed some promise. Though general manager Andrew Berry didn't commit to Sanders as the 2026 starter, the Colorado product deserves a shot to earn the job.
No matter who the Browns' starter will be, they won't have success unless the franchise upgrades their receiver room. As a result, ESPN's Ben Solak predicts the Browns will trade for disgruntled San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk this offseason to be the new No. 1 receiver.
"Aiyuk's days in San Francisco are likely over; the Browns can offer him more money and opportunity compared to any other team in the NFL," Solak said.
Aiyuk is unlikely to return to San Francisco next season, as he was placed on the reserve/left squad list in December, which casts doubt on his future.
Though Aiyuk was rehabbing from a torn ACL and MCL suffered in October 2024 at the start of the season, head coach Kyle Shanahan stated in December that he hadn't seen his franchise receiver in a month, which is obviously a bad sign for his future with the 49ers.
If San Francisco decides to trade Aiyuk, Cleveland should consider making a move for the former second-team All-Pro receiver, though it would come with some risk. Aiyuk hasn't played in over a year, and it's clear he's been a distraction in Santa Clara this year.
However, there's no denying Aiyuk's talent when he's on the field. The 27-year-old tallied 1,342 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in his last healthy season in 2023.
Adding Aiyuk to the receiver group to help Sanders or whoever the starting signal-caller is for Cleveland next season would be a splash move from Berry, but trading for Aiyuk could also go horribly wrong.