Patriots reportedly made big trade and contract offer for Brandon Aiyuk

The New England Patriots were in on San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk in the off-season. Legitimately.

According to a new report from Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio over the weekend, five teams called the 49ers before the 2024 draft to negotiate a potential Aiyuk trade, and all five were prepared to sign the 26-year-old wideout to a contract extension upon making the move. Florio reports that the Patriots specifically offered their second-round pick, No. 34 overall, and the Niners turned it down.

As for the contract, Florio says the "magic number" was around $28 million per season. That may have gone up in the wake of a new market-setting contract for Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson, who signed a new deal with an average annual value of $35 million (via Over The Cap). The $28M figure would match that of the Las Vegas Raiders' Davante Adams, who ranks sixth in the NFL in that category.

The Patriots ultimately drafted receiver Ja'Lynn Polk out of Washington with the 34th pick in the draft. His four-year rookie contract has an AAV of about $2.4 million.

Aiyuk certainly has a case to be paid within the top-10 wide receivers in the NFL, after posting two straight seasons of 75-plus catches, 1,000-plus yards, and 7-plus touchdowns, and while getting only the fourth-most touches on a deep, diverse Niners offense. But to pay anything more than a second-round pick and a $28 million-per-year contract for him would stretch into "overpay" territory, if it hadn't already.

That's especially the case for the Patriots, who certainly weren't going to trade the No. 3 overall pick in 2024, and could be on track for another top-10 pick in 2025. According to ESPN's Mike Reiss on Sunday, "it's hard to imagine the Patriots being willing to part with" their first-round pick next year.

It's clear, at this point, that the 49ers aren't inclined to actually trade Aiyuk unless they are bowled over by an exorbitant trade offer, the kind that ceases to be worth the price tag. So, it's likely to come down to those two sides in San Fran to reach a compromise on the contract.

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As for the Patriots, they have Polk and fourth-round pick Javon Baker infusing their wide receiver room with youth and upside, but with questions about how the depth chart will ultimately shake out - and if any of them would approach the talent and production of Aiyuk.

Matt Dolloff is a writer and digital content producer for 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read all of his articles here.