Patriots Cannot Maintain ample money to Give Up on Brandon Aiyuk Pursuit Amid NFL Alternate Rumors

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk stays the subject of replace speculation and for simply cause. The 26-year-faded megastar cross-catcher formally requested a replace ultimate week, and interested teams would possibly perchance well perchance also need yet any other to make a splash before the entirety up of working in direction of camp.

The Contemporary England Patriots like reportedly been a model of interested teams. Per ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio, Contemporary England modified into once one among 5 teams that attempted to make Aiyuk earlier than the draft.

“It is unclear what the 49ers wished at the time,” Florio wrote. “They rejected an provide of a 2nd-spherical resolve from the Patriots. Other interested teams had been, and doubtlessly level-headed are, the Steelers and Commanders.”

Per NFL Insider Josina Anderson, the Patriots like reached out regarding Aiyuk a ways more right this moment and been rebuffed.

“I’m advised internal the final phrase couple of weeks the Patriots reached out to the 49ers inquiring about WR Brandon Aiyuk yet again and had been advised the gifted wide receiver modified into once now not being traded at the time, per source,” Anderson posted on X on July 16.

It appears to be like that Aiyuk’s replace request is not very more likely to interchange San Francisco’s stance on keen him.

“One source advised me that he desires to either be traded or paid, the
49ers like shown a willingness to build neither,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said Saturday on SportsCenter (h/t Bleacher Document’s Mike Chiari). “Now, they’re looking to pay him,
the context is market price, they effect now not are looking to fetch up to that $30
million differ that he feels he is earned.”

Correct on yarn of San Francisco is not very desirous to movement Aiyuk, the Patriots ought to not simply abandon their pursuit.

While Aiyuk has ultimate logged one season of high-tier manufacturing—ultimate year’s 1,342-yard, seven-touchdown campaign—he is flashed the skill of a correct No. 1 target. He is coming off abet-to-abet 1,000-yard campaigns, has averaged appropriate below 1,000 yards per season and has developed into one among the league’s high route-runners.

Simply build, Aiyuk is the supreme No. 1 target to pair with Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye

Contemporary England had one among the NFL’s most underwhelming receiving corps over the final phrase couple of seasons, which completely did now not reduction the pattern of 2021 first-spherical decide Mac Jones. Demario Douglas led ultimate year’s body of workers with ultimate 561 receiving yards, and No. 2 wideout, Kendrick Bourne, is returning from a torn ACL.

The Patriots did now not build a ton to enhance their receiver room with the exception of including K.J. Osborn and the expend of a 2nd-spherical decide on Washington’s Ja’Lynn Polk. On the other hand, Including Aiyuk would replace the complexion of the offense dramatically.

The argument against focusing on Aiyuk is that prying him away for the 49ers would likely price a first-spherical decide and more. It would possibly perchance per chance per chance perchance additionally mean giving him a excessive-market contract. By waiting a year, the Patriots would possibly perchance well perchance also doubtlessly pursue a cross-catcher appreciate Aiyuk or Tee Higgins in free agency or snag a first-spherical receiver on a rookie contract.

For sure, there would possibly perchance be now not any guarantee that the Patriots can trap a high receiver to Contemporary England with out overpaying, and inexperienced persons are continuously a minute little bit of a bet. Aiyuk is a proven commodity, and the Patriots can come up with the money for to meet his asking price.

Contemporary England leads the NFL with $41.4 million in cap space.

Buying Aiyuk now would additionally fetch a excessive-discontinue receiver into the locker room early in Maye’s pattern. Maye would possibly perchance well perchance also now not launch up early in 2024—journeyman Jacoby Brissett modified into once the starter all the design by minicamp—but it completely would possibly perchance well perchance be a shock if he would now not launch up at all as a rookie.

And if Brissett suffers an harm, it will most likely perchance also power Maye onto the field earlier than prior to anticipated, and which can be disastrous with out a functional receiving corps.

For sure, the 49ers would possibly perchance well perchance also simply refuse to movement Aiyuk at any price. Their Nice Bowl window is open, and to boot they’ll preserve body of workers management over Aiyuk for two more seasons by capability of the franchise impress if they so resolve.

On the other hand, Contemporary England wants to preserve attempting. It has a novel quarterback of the future to produce, and Aiyuk is basically the most easy young receiver it’d be ready to hope to affect at this level in the offseason.