As we've observed, the market for free-agent wide receivers during this off-season started off small and has gotten even smaller as we approach the start of the new league year on Wednesday. This is unfortunate for the NFL , who have seen Patriotsre-sign with the Buccaneers, Mike Evans receive a franchise tag from the Bengals and Tee Higgins Michael Pittman get tagged by the Colts. If the Patriots truly want the best receiver as they revamp their offense, they were always going to have to look to make a trade. The best trade option at the moment is with the defending NFC champion
, where salary-cap restrictions could result in a trade of star 49ersBrandon Aiyuk Now, Aiyuk desires to win. This may make it difficult for the Patriots to convince him as he is in the final year of his contract and needs an extension. However, if the Patriots were able to secure LSU star quarterback Jayden Daniels with the No. 3 pick, it might make the sale easier—Daniels started his career at Arizona State before transferring, where his top receiver as a freshman was none other than Aiyuk..
gist of a recent pitch
That’s the from the Bleacher Report podcast host Keith McPherson , who is also a host for WFAN in New York. “Jayden Daniels goes No. 3 to the Patriots, and then they make a trade, maybe on draft night, to go get Brandon Aiyuk,” McPherson said on a B/R stream.Patriots Receivers Are ‘Cooked’
Undoubtedly, McPherson has a point about the lack of talent in the Patriots’ receiver room, where two veteran signees—
DeVante ParkerJuju Smith-Schuster and —have been massive busts. Solid No. 2 optionKendrick Bourne is a free agent and Demario Douglas showed serious potential as a slot option as a rookie, but the team is badly in need of a true No. 1 threat. The Patriots are expected to add a receiver, maybe two, in the draft. However, Aiyuk is only 25 (he turns 26 next week) and would fulfill a major requirement on the to-do list.
“The Patriots receivers, they’re cooked,” McPherson said. “The Patriots, I don’t know what they’re going to do at quarterback, I don’t know what they’re going to do at receiver.
“There’s a lot of talk in this draft about how deep the wide-receiver class is, but if I’m picking a team to make a trade for Brandon Aiyuk where he could go and right away be the No. 1—Kendrick Bourne is probably out, Juju Smith-Schuster, no, DeVante Parker, no. (The Patriots) get Brandon Aiyuk, plug him in as the No. 1 receiver.”
Brandon Aiyuk Angling Out of San Francisco?
Of course, it’s hardly certain that the 49ers will trade Aiyuk, who is coming off an All-Pro season in which he
amassed 1,342 yards on 75 catches with seven touchdowns. But rumors of his dissatisfaction with the 49ers emerged when individuals close to Aiyuk hinted last month on social media that Aiyuk is moving elsewhere. His close friend
Draysean Hudson pointed out that Aiyuk had only three catches in the Super Bowl and added, “This is the exact reason why we leaving San Francisco.” When these posts were brought up to Aiyuk he did not attempt to brush them off, saying he would stay with the 49ers only if it were, “the right move.” He also seemed bothered on social media by his lack of catches in the Super Bowl when he posted, “Don’t forget what got you there.”
There are several potential trade options for the 49ers, and the Patriots have the opportunity to offer some valuable picks. They won't give away the No. 3 pick this year, but they do have the No. 34 pick and could persuade the 49ers by offering multiple picks in this draft.
Of course, the Patriots have many needs. However, acquiring Aiyuk for the long-term would justify giving up picks in the short-term.
The Patriots might make a daring move to acquire star WR Brandon Aiyuk, who was a college teammate of Jayden Daniels at ASU.
