Eliot Wolf gave an update on where the New England Patriots stand regarding trading for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
When asked if the team has closed the door on Aiyuk, the response was an emphatic “yes” from the Patriots’ executive vice president of player personnel.
“Yes, at this point,” Wolf told media members.
The Patriots officially ended their pursuit earlier this month, citing their confidence in the young wide receivers room as one of the main factors.
Aiyuk’s destination has not been decided to this point, but it appears as if he will either stay in San Francisco or be traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Aiyuk is coming off a 2023 season that saw him tally 75 catches for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns. He was part of a dynamic 49ers offense that helped propel the team to a Super Bowl appearance last season.
Have the Patriots totally closed the door on trading for Brandon Aiyuk?
Eliot Wolf: "Yes, at this point."
Said the Patriots pulled out of the Aiyuk sweepstakes based on a feeling they were getting and a belief in their young receivers. pic.twitter.com/zVSyS2rc71
— Dakota Randall (@DakRandall) August 18, 2024
The Patriots are not at a Super Bowl level yet, and they appear to be taking a long-term approach to a rebuild. They could still use help at receiver, either from an outside player or a huge leap in production from somebody already on their team.
The lack of explosive receiving weapons is a lingering issue that persists, even after all of the changes the team made in the offseason. It’ll be up to Wolf and company to fix it.
