The Patriots could be on the verge of landing one of the best wide receivers in the NFL.
According to a source, the Patriots have the framework done with the San Francisco 49ers to acquire Brandon Aiyuk.
The deal is in a holding pattern as the 49ers gave Aiyuk permission to negotiate a contract with several teams vying for his services. One of these teams, according to a source, is the Patriots. Ultimately, it’ll be up to Aiyuk to decide if he’ll accept the contract terms with the Patriots – or another team.
The news of Aiyuk’s potential trade was first reported by Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. According to Maiocco, the 49ers also have the framework of an Aiyuk trade done with the Cleveland Browns.
According to NBC Sports Bay Area, Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne would be part of the trade package if Aiyuk accepts the Patriots contract offer.
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San Francisco has also permitted Aiyuk’s team to negotiate with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Commanders. According to NBC Sports Bay Area, the Commanders dropped out of the Aiyuk trade talks and the Steelers aren’t willing to meet the 49ers trade demands.
Aiyuk, 26, has finished with over 1,000 receiving yards in each of the last two seasons. He’s coming off the best season of his NFL career after catching 75 passes for 1,342 yards with seven touchdowns. That earned him Second-team All-Pro honors
A first-round pick in 2020, Aiyuk has never finished with less than 748 yards in an NFL season. A 6-foot receiver, Aiyuk is also an electric athlete and would instantly weaponize the Patriots offense.
The Patriots attempted to add a No. 1 receiver this offseason in free agency by pursuing Calvin Ridley, but the team was outbid by the Tennessee Titans. Eliot Wolf and the team’s front office also tried to trade back into the first round of April’s draft to target a receiver. When they didn’t, they opted to trade back in the second round and draft receiver Ja’Lynn Polk. The Pats also added receiver Javon Baker in the fourth round.
In training camp, the Patriots have seen several wide receivers step up – notably Tyquan Thornton, K.J. Osborn, and Jalen Reagor. Last year’s leading receiver DeMario Douglas has been limited and practicing in a red non-contact jersey. Bourne, who suffered an ACL injury last year, is currently on the PUP list.
Although the team’s receivers have performed admirably this summer, the Patriots have lacked a true No. 1 treat. That’s where Aiyuk would come in.
The receiver is in a contract year and requested a trade out of San Francisco after failed contract negotiations. Aiyuk is likely searching for a new deal that could pay him somewhere between $25 and $30 million annually.
The Patriots currently have the second most cap space in the NFL with $43.172 million, according to Overthecap.
