Patriots Rumor Patriots potentially trading for Aiyuk (Update - Patriots Out of the Running)

[JohnJH]

This is where I am at. A first, from this team, is going to be too steep since it will likely be a top 10 pick. A second and Bourne is fine with me.

Agreed. Especially considering that we'll need that pick to hopefully get a stud LT to protect Maye.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

The Pats have nearly $40 million left in cap space this year and $96 million next year. I don't think a huge contract is an issue at all. It is all about the trade compensation. The Pats have plenty of cap space for Aiyuk.

I don't have a problem giving up cap space OR a pick for a good player. It's giving up BOTH that is meh for me. We need to add a lot of elite talent if we're going to get back to competing. The best avenue(s) to do so are drafting and signing players. Signing a FA only costs money. Drafting someone only costs the pick you use. Trading for someone and giving out a big extension costs both. It's a bigger chunk out of our resource pool, is my point. It's a pick you can't use on someone else AND money you can't spend on someone else.

At this stage of a rebuild, I don't like double paying because the roster is such a blank slate. We don't have an all pro on the roster and arguably we don't have anyone who ever will be. We need as many bites at the apple as we can get. But like I said, I'm ok with it on Aiyuk (to a point) because of how I think he can aid the QB development piece.

 

[Ring 6]

Pickens is probably not valued as highly by NFL teams as he is by fans who are wowed by his talent and who pay less attention to his potential to be a disruptive force due to his volatility. If Tomlin can’t keep him in line consistently, that is a red flag.
More likely than not, the vast majority of NFL teams with the cap space to add Aiyuk for the money he is asking would jump at the chance to trade Pickens for him straight up. Pickens will likely be making a lot noise about wanting to get paid as soon as next off-season and, in the meantime, he remains a ticking time-bomb, especially with their current quarterback situation.

It’s not enough of an upgrade to over come what else you could spend 25-30 million on.

 

[Give Kraft A Hand]

I just saw a proposal of Bourne, Our first for Aiyuk and there second.
That’s interesting but I wouldn’t do it.

Zero chance. I'd even say beyond zero chance that the 1st is traded.

 

[JohnJH]

It’s really early but right now the 2025 LT class looks really weak.

Even if true, from what I've seen, the Top 2 OT's in 2025 are better than anything that we currently have.

 

[EMpats]

Aiyuk is not a #1 WR. He will not draw double teams. He is not a speedster.
Do not trade what could be #33 for a good but not great WR. Not worth 30 million per year either

He is absolutely a top 10 receiver in the league by pretty much every consensus and metric there is out there.

He ran a 4.3 forty in college, ran his combine 40 with a bad core injury, and had the fastest top speed by gps in the entire country of college football his senior year. He is an elite speedster and an all pro. He’s worth that money and more.

 

[Grogan14]

Zero chance. I'd even say beyond zero chance that the 1st is traded.

The first will be a top 5 pick. It should be untouchable

 

[Sect140]

When Samuel missed three games last season the 49ers lost all three games. Did those three defenses make Aiyuk their priority? I wonder what his numbers were in those three losses.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

His stats were related to having Mccaffrey Deebo and Kittle as alternate threats. That will not be the case for Pats

Sure. That helps. But end of the day, he was the main option for them. He had the most targets. He was the most explosive playmaker in yards/touch and yards/target. Doesn't that count for anything that on a team with other great pieces, he was the best?

I'm not saying Aiyuk is the best in the game. I agree he's not the absolute cream of the crop. But if you're not happy with him as you're #1 then chances are you're just never going to be happy because there's only a small handful of guys better.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

Our 1st should be entirely off the table for Aiyuk. If they're offering that then shame on them. Terrible idea.

I'm in support of the idea based on the idea that it's our 2nd next year and no other 1sts or 2nd rounders. Maybe I'd throw 3rd(s) and/or 4th(s) or whatever, but basically it'd have to be just that 2nd as far as chips that really hurt to lose.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

When Samuel missed three games last season the 49ers lost all three games. Did those three defenses make Aiyuk their priority? I wonder what his numbers were in those three losses.

14 catches (on 25 targets), 242 yards. The 17.3 yards/catch was right in line with his season average (17.89). It's 81 yards/game compared to his season average of 84, so right in line.

The only noticeable drop off was in catch% where he fell to 56%. So that'd be something to watch for. But the production was maintained overall.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

He's been a steady performer and really worked himself into one of the better wrs in the league. Teams give him wr1 treatment with their best cb. SF uses him as a true #1 (x/outside - one of the more productive wrs on 1st, 2nd & 3rd down) I've seen him referred to as a slot or a slot if he was in SF. He wins against some of the best cb in the league and wins outside against all different types of coverage. He's not a product of that system just bc he excels in it. It certainly helps, it helps playing with great players but he's done everything you can to stand out. He's hardly "schemed" open or "fed" touches as a player. Shanahan is great at what he does but so are the guys that actually produce and execute.

Multiple people have brought up the fact that he runs a 4.5. What did Adams, Kupp or Brown run? How about Antonio Brown? Mike Evans or Hopkins? Aiyuk ran a 4.5 hurt, with a core injury fwiw.
That 4.5 hasn't hurt him so far ...
"He caught 14 of 20 passes thrown both outside the numbers and 15-plus air yards last season, the best rate (70%) of any player in the last four seasons (min. 20 targets)" - cbs sports ... Y/R 17.9 (2nd in the league)

Makes the most of his targets. He's been one of if not the most efficient wr over the past 2 years. Almost 1400 yards/7 on 105 targets last year.

He's a plus blocker "no block no rock in that system

Some are saying it's "too soon?" We have a rookie QB that will be playing very very soon. We all know that's the biggest cheat code you can have. Some of us are aware of the fact that wrs have become more important. Surrounding your rookie qb and young wr corp with an established vet isn't far fetched. It's not like "wooah where is this move coming from?" Aiyuk is 26, in/entering his prime. It makes perfect sense.

You want to maximize Maye at his age not "see what he can do" before making an investment. The investment has already been made ... in Maye. I'm not worried about a wr contract. I'm worried about the guy that'll have the biggest effect on the franchise over the next 5 years. You can recover from a bad contract. See you in 2030 if we F up Maye.

*** SF won't get two very good players and a 1st. That won't happen. I believe Aiyuk is obviously worth a 1st but not lottery pick. Like we'll most likely have. I would give up our 2nd + 4th maybe a future 6th. That equals out to a 1st in the 20's where he was drafted. Considering his payment I think thats fair. I'd give up KB and take off the 4th***

 

[Hyped]

Well, if they like Aiyuk THAT MUCH, he must be a difference maker....

 

[Hyped]

Any chance they could throw in Trent Williams?

 

[Fuzz]

Nobody else can offer as much as the Patriots in terms of draft capital or cap space, so if the Patriots want him bad enough, they can get him. Mayo's conference today basically confirmed that they are at least interested. I don't buy into the idea that he won't come here because he wants to win. If he wanted to win, he would stay in SF. Besides, its exceedingly rare for a player to chase a ring over money. In the end, it always comes down to money.

 

[KCSVEN]

His stats were related to having Mccaffrey Deebo and Kittle as alternate threats. That will not be the case for Pats

Seems like he would get less balls with the other options, that would hurt his stats not help them.
This idea he doesn't get covered because they are covering other people doesn't line up with the tape.
Look at the Super Bowl video of how he was open all day and Purdy, being an average QB couldn't get him the ball or looked elsewhere. Guy was open for 3 touchdowns Purdy missed. Tho on 1 Purdy had immediate pressure but he was also open by 10 yards in the EZ if he just quickly looked. He beat Sneed regularly.
He just balls out and gets open. 5 teams were willing to pay him his money which means that's his value.
Is he in the Hill, Jefferson Chase, Lamb arena? No, he's Just below, but he's at the top of the next level.

 

[KCSVEN]

Nobody else can offer as much as the Patriots in terms of draft capital or cap space, so if the Patriots want him bad enough, they can get him. Mayo's conference today basically confirmed that they are at least interested. I don't buy into the idea that he won't come here because he wants to win. If he wanted to win, he would stay in SF. Besides, its exceedingly rare for a player to chase a ring over money. In the end, it always comes down to money.

That's just not true.
They found 5 teams willing to pay him. 49ers will not pay him so they are not an option for an extension, so no he would not stay there to win because it's about GETTING PAID AND WINNING
He can play 1 year and go get paid where he wants or commit to the next 4+ year somewhere and get paid.
He wants to play for Steelers where he feels he gets both.
What they offer 49ers has ZERO bearing on if they get him if he says he's not signing an extension, which is what he has said so far.
From the Pats end they are not giving him Jefferson money just to get him, that'd be dumb so the cap space is also irrelevant at this point as Cleveland, Pitt and NE can all pay him what he said he wanted.

 

[Ring 6]

The first will be a top 5 pick. It should be untouchable

It could be 1 overall.

 

[festy1986]

There's no way the Patriots are trading a first in the 2025 draft.

You might as well blow the front office up again if they did that nonsense.

 

[Ross12]

The first will be a top 5 pick. It should be untouchable

If the Pats acquire Aiyuk I don’t think they’re finishing as a bottom 5 team…