The New England Patriots reportedly had a massive offer on the table for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported that New England offered over $32 million per year for Aiyuk, and they were also willing to offer the 49ers a 2025 second-round draft pick, 2026 fourth-rounder and a player.
The parameters of the trade were agreed upon between the 49ers and Patriots, but Aiyuk never agreed to the contract offer. New England ultimately moved on and shifted their focus to their own young corps of receivers.
Meanwhile, Aiyuk signed a four-year $120 million deal at the end of August to stay in San Francisco. He is coming off a 2023 season that saw him record 75 catches for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns.
Breer wrote:
Had the New England Patriots done a deal with the Niners for Aiyuk, and they were trying, the package was expected to be for a 2025 second-round pick, a ’26 fourth-rounder, and a player—the Niners asked for Kendrick Bourne, who played for San Francisco from 2017–20 and is still making his way back from a torn ACL. New England put two contract proposals in front of Aiyuk. One averaged $30 million over three years, and the other exceeded $32 million per year over four years.
New England was willing to pay, but they ultimately lost out to San Francisco in the end.
The 49ers are a championship-contending team with the pieces in place to bring out the best in Aiyuk’s game. The Patriots, on the other hand, are a rebuilding team still trying to figure out their offensive identity.
