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

[PatsFan2]

Sounding less and less likely to me. Instead we get more looks for our 2 draft picks to develop, and a bunch of cap space and high draft picks.

Interesting that a Team who seems Good at WR is in the Aiyuk running. I think they got a nice one Roman Wilson in the Third Round who's currently nursing an ankle injury.

 

[203Pat]

I'd like to see the gap between Aiyuk (or any other super-pricey WR) and Polk and Baker and Douglas before jumping in, personally.

This is kind of my silver lining view to this whole thing. I would be happy if they are able to swing the trade for a second round pick but if the price is more than that I don't have a big issue seeing what we have with the young guys. If either Polk or Baker can play then next year we would hopefully go all in on a franchise tackle in the draft without the major need at receiver.

 

[Uptown]

 

[203Pat]

Sounding less and less likely to me. Instead we get more looks for our 2 draft picks to develop, and a bunch of cap space and high draft picks.

Yeah this whole thing is starting to sound like it is more trouble than it's worth. If the deal is Bourne and a 2 or something similar then I am fine with it but if we need to go crazy on the contract and give up more to the 49ers then I say we move on and work with what we have.

 

[PatsFan2]

Now I'm confused if the Steelers give them all that they are Idiots. Yeah I don't think Aiyuk is going anywhere now.

 

[Grogan14]

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

 

[Hugepatsfan]

You can talk positions, but end of the day, I believe our main "need" as a team is elite players. We don't really have any. Just for frame of reference, Aiyuk is ranked #8 WR in the game by PFF entering this year and made an all pro team last year. Granted, I think he's probably closer to #15 than he is #1, but I feel comfortable saying he's an elite player at his position.

My issue with Aiuyuk is the "double" cost of giving up a high pick and a huge contract. I don't like a team that's as much of a blank slate as we are paying a double cost. I think it's ok to do in this instance, because a #1 WR will aid in the development of Drake Maye and help slot in the young WRs into better roles to grow in. As long as it doesn't cost a 1st or multiple high picks, I like it for us if we can pull it off.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

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 made an all pro team last year.

He averaged 18 yards/catch.

#1 WR for one of the best offenses in the league.

PFF has him ranked #8 at the position

If he's not a #1, IDK what a #1 is to you. Speed is just one attribute.

 

[Rob0729]

Any trade where you have to sign the guy to a 25-30 mill contract is shaky and should never include comparable talent as well. Unless it’s the missing piece for a championship you really just set yourself back.

The Pats have a ridiculous amount of cap space and because most teams do now, it is really difficult to build through free agency since most of the best free agents are re-signed. The Pats have about $40 million in cap space left this year and $96 million next year. They have no problem signing Aiyuk and still being able to re-sign players and add more pieces. The contract isn't the issue unless it makes the player lazy.

 

[Patsgofor4]

Pickens for Aiyuk straight up would be stupid given the contact status.

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.

 

[Rob0729]

You can talk positions, but end of the day, I believe our main "need" as a team is elite players. We don't really have any. Just for frame of reference, Aiyuk is ranked #8 WR in the game by PFF entering this year and made an all pro team last year. Granted, I think he's probably closer to #15 than he is #1, but I feel comfortable saying he's an elite player at his position.

My issue with Aiuyuk is the "double" cost of giving up a high pick and a huge contract. I don't like a team that's as much of a blank slate as we are paying a double cost. I think it's ok to do in this instance, because a #1 WR will aid in the development of Drake Maye and help slot in the young WRs into better roles to grow in. As long as it doesn't cost a 1st or multiple high picks, I like it for us if we can pull it off.

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.

 

[upstater1]

They would be crazy to trade away our 1st rounder, and this is why this is a tough go for the Patriots.

On the other hand, do these other teams really have that much cap room available?

 

[PatsFan2]

They would be crazy to trade away our 1st rounder, and this is why this is a tough go for the Patriots.

On the other hand, do these other teams really have that much cap room available?

Is John Lynch still their GM??

 

[Rob0729]

They would be crazy to trade away our 1st rounder, and this is why this is a tough go for the Patriots.

On the other hand, do these other teams really have that much cap room available?

There is zero chance that the Pats give up their first. Odds are still very good that it could be a top 3-5 pick. That is a potential HOFer. It is already penciled in as Maye's blindside protector for about 10-15 years.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Any trade where you have to sign the guy to a 25-30 mill contract is shaky and should never include comparable talent as well. Unless it’s the missing piece for a championship you really just set yourself back.

Yeah on the Steelers end it wouldnt make much sense to include pickens in a deal. Right now they don’t have much beyond wr1 and that would still be an issue there after giving up all the cash for aiyuk.

The only thing that would really make sense for pitt is sending a 1st and thats too much for aiyuk. If they can somehow get sf to send him for a 2 + a lower rd pick that would be alright for them but sf would be foolish to do that over our offer regardless of aiyuks wishes.

 

[JohnJH]

The Foxboro pee wee squad had a better offense than we did last season. If Brissett has the job for now it's ok.. Cannon arm Drake when he's ready will have an excellent WR corps.. ayuik, Polk , Baker, Tyquan and Henry at TE.. would be great!

Preferably Aiyuk, Polk, Baker, Douglas, and Henry.

 

[JohnJH]

There is zero chance that the Pats give up their first. Odds are still very good that it could be a top 3-5 pick. That is a potential HOFer. It is already penciled in as Maye's blindside protector for about 10-15 years.

We absolutely need our 2025 1st Round Pick to get a hopefully Day 1 high quality starter, if not "Blue Chip" LT.

 

[Love The Drake]

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

 

[Ring 6]

The Pats have a ridiculous amount of cap space and because most teams do now, it is really difficult to build through free agency since most of the best free agents are re-signed. The Pats have about $40 million in cap space left this year and $96 million next year. They have no problem signing Aiyuk and still being able to re-sign players and add more pieces. The contract isn't the issue unless it makes the player lazy.

Just because they have the money, which Kraft just refused to spend, doesn’t mean any way of spending is smart.
This team has a ton of needs. Largely ignoring free agency in order to basically sign a free agent and give up compensation too isn’t the way to build a team.

 

[Grogan14]

He made an all pro team last year.

He averaged 18 yards/catch.

#1 WR for one of the best offenses in the league.

PFF has him ranked #8 at the position

If he's not a #1, IDK what a #1 is to you. Speed is just one attribute.

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