Brandon Aiyuk apparently wants to leave the 49ers. That’s great news for a team like the Patriots, who currently don’t roster a bonafide No. 1 wide receiver.
Unfortunately for New England, a deal for the San Francisco pass-catcher does not appear likely.
In a column published Sunday, ESPN’s Mike Reiss highlighted a pair of obstacles that probably will prevent Aiyuk from relocating to Foxboro, Mass.
“There are two significant hurdles for New England, however: The 49ers reportedly don’t intend to trade Aiyuk at this time, and it’s hard to imagine the Patriots being willing to part with their 2025 first-round pick to acquire him considering it could be among the top selections in the draft as they transition to a new regime,” Reiss wrote.
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A first-round pick appears to be a non-negotiable item in Aiyuk trade conversations. The Patriots reportedly floated a second-rounder to the reigning NFC champions, but John Lynch and company declined the offer.
The fact of the matter is, it doesn’t make sense for the 49ers to trade Aiyuk unless they receive an offer they can’t refuse. San Francisco will enter the 2024 season as one of the top Super Bowl LIX favorites, and Aiyuk will be relied upon to help the franchise get over the hump after years of flirting with the Lombardi Trophy.
The Patriots likely will need to make a power play for a game-changing receiver at some point. But Aiyuk probably won’t be the solution.
