Top Options for WR-Needy NFL Teams After 49ers Rekindle Brandon Aiyuk Contract Talks

Any NFL team dreaming of adding blossoming star receiver Brandon Aiyuk may have had its hopes dashed over the last few days. While the San Francisco 49ers were listening to trade offers for the 26-year-old, they have reportedly reversed course.

According to Dianna Russini, Matt Barrows and David Lombardi of The Athletic, the 49ers have "opened up" contract negotiations with Aiyuk following a recent sit-down with team officials.

According to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay, Area San Francisco had agreed to the framework of an Aiyuk trade with both the New England Patriots and the Cleveland Browns. However, the Patriots pulled out of trade talks, and the Browns were not one of Aiyuk's preferred destinations, according to Maiocco.

Barring another sudden change, Aiyuk appears to be off the market, at least for the time being. However, that doesn't mean that receiver-needy teams like New England and the Pittsburgh Steelers—another team that has inquired about Aiyuk—can't strengthen their rosters ahead of training camp.

Those teams will still be tracking Aiyuk closely, but they can consider these alternatives in the meantime.

Michael Thomas remains unsigned, which isn't a surprise after several seasons marred by injuries and underwhelming production. The 31-year-old missed all of the 2021 campaign. He also hasn't reached 500 yards in a season and has appeared in only 20 games over that over the last four years.

Back in 2019, though, Thomas led the NFL in receiving yards and and was named Offensive Player of the Year for his efforts. That campaign marked his third straight as a Pro Bowler and his fourth straight with at least 1,100 receiving yards.

While a return to Pro Bowl form is unlikely for Thomas, the 6'3", 212-pound pass-catcher can still help an NFL offense. He caught 39 passes for 448 yards and a touchdown in 10 games with the New Orleans Saints last season and can still serve as a solid third or fourth option for a team lacking at the receiver position.

Thomas could help a team like New England or Pittsburgh—though he isn't the Steelers' "type of receiver," according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

A reunion with Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton could also make sense, as Denver is looking to develop rookie quarterback Bo Nix and has few proven options behind Courtland Sutton.

Former Las Vegas Raiders Pro Bowler Hunter Renfrow is another boom-or-bust free agent who would be worth a flier at this point in the offseason.

Renfrow was released by the Raiders this offseason after two down years with the franchise. He battled injuries in 2022 and largely fell out of the offensive game plan this past season. In 2021, however, Renfrow had 103 catches for 1,038 yards and nine touchdowns en route to his first and only Pro Bowl appearance.

While Renfrow is largely a slot specialist, he does possess some inside-outside versatility. He's also a savvy route-runner and space-creator who could benefit a young and developing quarterback.

The Patriots would be wise to give Renfrow a look after releasing JuJu Smith-Schuster. While rookie quarterback Drake Maye is expected to sit behind journeyman Jacoby Brissett to start the season, it would be a mild surprise if he doesn't see playing time at some point in 2024.

The Minnesota Vikings are in a similar position with rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy and could consider Renfrow as an ancillary target behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.

After parting with Thomas, the Saints don't have a ton of proven receiver depth after Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. Taking a flier on Renfrow would allow him to reunite with former Raiders quarterback Derek Carr.

The Patriots obviously aren't bringing back Smith-Schuster, but the former Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs standout could help another receiver-needy team.

The 27-year-old had a stellar 1,426-yard campaign in Pittsburgh back in 2018. He wasn't as productive in Kansas City two years ago, but he did rack up 933 yards and three touchdowns while helping the Chiefs win Super Bowl LVII.

While Smith-Schuster underwhelmed with the Patriots last season (260 yards, 1 TD), it's worth noting that he battled a knee injury throughout the campaign. He stated earlier this offseason that he was back to 100 percent.

"It's a big difference," Smith-Schuster said in May, per CBS Sports' Jared Dubin. "...I feel great, honestly."

The rebuilding Patriots are opting to go with younger wideouts, which instantly makes Smith-Schuster one of the more intriguing names available. He may never replicate his 2018 numbers, but he's young enough to again be the difference-maker he was two years ago.

A return to Pittsburgh could make a ton of sense, as the Steelers continue searching for a viable second option opposite George Pickens. Smith-Schuster could aid Nix and the Broncos, and he'd also be a sensible target for the Carolina Panthers.

Carolina did trade for Diontae Johnson and draft Xavier Legette this offseason, but they need to put as many pieces around second-year quarterback Bryce Young as possible.

Corey Davis didn't play in 2023 after temporarily retiring last offseason. However, David applied for reinstatement during the spring and was subsequently released by the New York Jets.

Davis' two seasons in New York were far from great, as he was repeatedly hampered by injuries and barely topped 1,000 yards in 2022 games. However, the 2017 first-round pick was much more productive in his four seasons with the Tennessee Titans.

While Davis never played up to his status as the fifth overall pick, his 3,879 yards and 17 touchdowns in four years with Tennessee were nevertheless impressive. The 29-year-old probably won't deliver a 1,000-yard campaign in his post-retirement return, but he could be an effective role player.

Davis delivered 536 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games during his final Jets campaign.

Teams like Denver and the Washington Commanders—who have their own rookie QB in Jayden Daniels—would be wise to consider Davis as a low-risk, high-reward option. The Steelers could offer Davis a chance to reunite with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who served in the same role in Tennessee during Davis' final two seasons with the franchise.

Cleveland isn't exactly desperate for receiver help, and its pursuit of Aiyuk always felt like a long-term play—it offered 30-year-old receiver Amari Cooper as part of the trade package, according to Maiocco. However, the Browns might want to give Davis a look, given the presence of former Titans head coach Mike Vrabel as a consultant.

Receiver-needy teams will find it difficult, if not outright impossible, to pry thee-time Pro Bowler CeeDee Lamb away from the Dallas Cowboys. As Bleacher Report's Maurice Moton noted on Saturday, Dallas would be foolish to simply cut ties with its All-Pro receiver as Dak Prescott enters a contract year.

However, Lamb does become the obvious trade target if Aiyuk is indeed off the market. The 25-year-old is also seeking a new contract, has an even stronger resume than Aiyuk, and has held out of training camp.

The Cowboys, meanwhile, appear even more hesitant than the 49ers to extend their star pass-catcher.

"I don't have any urgency to get it done," franchise owner Jerry Jones said, per NFL.com's Grant Gordon.

If the Cowboys aren't willing or can't give Lamb the lucrative long-term deal he wants—likely one that matches or surpasses Jefferson's market-leading deal—cashing in on the trade market may be their best bet.

An offer that actually moves the needle in Dallas would be large—Moton's proposed trades each included at least a first-round selection plus other picks and players. However, it could be worth it to land a young No. 1 receiver of Lamb's caliber.

Moton lists the Patriots, Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals and Detroit Lions as teams that could logically pursue Lamb. However, virtually any team without a proven No. 1 option under contract long-term and with enough cap flexibility to extend Lamb should have some level of interest.

Houston Texans wideout Robert Woods certainly isn't the sort of top-tier receiver that Aiyuk and Lamb are. However, the 32-year-old is still a capable pass-catcher and could potentially be available via trade at a bargain price.

Woods, who caught 40 passes for 426 yards and a touchdown last season, is entering the final season of a two-year contract. He also finds himself in a crowded receiver room that also features Tank Dell, Nico Collins, Noah Brown, John Metchie III and newcomer Stefon Diggs.

While Woods served as one of Houston's offensive leaders last season, Diggs appears to be stepping into that veteran-receiver role.

"He's off the charts as a leader, off the charts as a player and a person," head coach DeMeco Ryans said of Diggs, per Dianna Russini of The Athletic.

Houston could save roughly $5 million in cap space by releasing Woods but would save $6.5 million by trading him. If he's on the bubble for financial reasons, the Texans would probably accept any reasonable trade offer.

Woods would be a great addition to any reloading team with a young quarterback, just as he was for the Texans last season. However, he could also be a fine budget-friendly option for a potential contender looking to bolster its receiving corps. That includes Dallas, which has underwhelming depth behind Lamb.

For many receiver-needy teams, the best option may be to simply wait and see who's available after final roster cuts. Teams must trim rosters to 53 players by August 27, which means that literally dozens of veteran receivers are likely to hit the market in the coming weeks.

Smith-Schuster has already been released, and as previously mentioned, Woods could be a cap casualty in Houston. Marquez Valdes-Scantling appears to be fighting for a roster spot with the Buffalo Bills, according to The Athletic's Joe Buscaglia, and Kadarius Toney could simply be running out of chances with the Chiefs.

Toney made several errors this past season and was eventually made inactive for the final three regular-season games and the entire postseason. His status as a 2021 first-round pick, however, will likely earn him another opportunity elsewhere.

While simply waiting isn't the spicy option, it can yield dividends. While teams aren't going to find high-end starters on the cut pile, they can find quality contributors. Last offseason, for example, Jamison Crowder was released by the Giants and went on to appear in all 17 games for the rival Commanders.

Expect at least a few receivers who are released in the coming weeks to find new homes and end up seeing plenty of regular-season action.

*Contract information via Spotrac.