The New England Patriots are purportedly in the late hours of Monday night finalizing a trade agreement for star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who is now with the San Francisco 49ers. However, the team is now waiting.
It’s unclear exactly what players the Patriots are ready to part with, but Kendrick Bourne of New England has been mentioned frequently as a potential trade asset who would likely end up in San Francisco should a deal materialize. Could Bourne work alone to get Aiyuk to leave the 49ers? Probably not. Thus, until any revolutionary innovations are realized, conjecture is the only path to depend on.
Greg Bedard of the Boston Sports Journal said on NBC Sports, “I would think at least it would be a second (round pick) next year, Matthew Judon and possibly Kendrick Bourne.” Boston’s “Boston Sports Tonight.” It’s time for Keion White to replace Matthew Judon. You get rid of Matthew Judon; he’s been a pain in the ass. I know San Francisco adores Kendrick Bourne. Kyle Shanahan, head coach of the 49ers, adores him. He is still on PUP, and I don’t see him quitting very soon. However, I’ll take it if it comes with an extra carrot.”
Aiyuk, who is unquestionably better than Bourne, almost missed winning the Super Bowl in San Francisco the previous season. But after both parties were unable to agree on a long-term agreement throughout the summer, the 26-year-old’s availability appeared out of nowhere, forcing teams like the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers to head straight to the negotiating table. Aiyuk may receive two significant incentives in Foxboro from New England, who has also been considering him for a few months: the chance to be among the highest-paid wide receivers in the NFL and the position of being the team’s top option. Sufficiently alluring? Let’s see.
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Aiyuk recorded a career-high 1,342 receiving yards and seven touchdowns on 105 targets during the previous campaign while playing for San Francisco. That kind of output might work wonders for New England’s young quarterback core, which includes Joe Milton III, Drake Maye, and Jacoby Brissett, as first-year head coach Jerod Mayo tries to restore the team’s identity. It was (very) obvious going into the offseason that the Patriots needed a quarterback and some kind of star power to lead the franchise into the future. The Patriots’ decision to invest in Aiyuk will be the clearest indication that they aren’t satisfied with the cloud that has hung over Gillette Stadium since Tom Brady’s departure in 2020, even though training camp and preseason play may suggest otherwise.
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