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

[MrTibbs]

I agree I don't think he's a game changer. I do however think you need a top end pass catcher to consistently succeed in the NFL nowadays.

Elite tight ends seem to make a huge difference as well. Hopefully the LT and TE come in the next draft.

 

[ausbacker]

Aiyuk would have been a nice piece, but not at the cost of mortgaging our future.

 

[slash83]

Aiyuk would have been a nice piece, but not at the cost of mortgaging our future.

So every team that trades for a WR and gives him money has mortgage their future away?

 

[mgteich]

OPTION ONE
Pay out a 2nd and a 4 year $30 AAV contract starting in 2024.

OPTION TWO
Pay out a 2nd and a 3 year $30 AAV starting in 2025.

This has either WR having a contract through the 2027 season.
============================
I strongly prefer the 2025 option.

We get to develop our three kids for a year.

Also, we have $30M of cap space to use on something else. Consider that spread over 2025-2027. That a $10 AAV player.

 

[mgteich]

So every team that trades for a WR and gives him money has mortgage their future away?

If a team needs one (or perhaps) two missing pieces to put them over the top, THEN PERHAPS it makes sense to consider trading top draft choices to secure those players and paying $30 AAV for such players.
==========
Are asking whether a team can absorb a $30 AAV contract and losing a 2nd round draft without mortgaging the future? If so, the answer is yes. Many teams have absorbed one or two such contracts without mortgaging the future.

 

[ausbacker]

So every team that trades for a WR and gives him money has mortgage their future away?

Rumours are San Fran asked Pittsburgh for a first, Freiermuth and Pickens. If true, that's madness.

 

[n1997y]

…Seems like we were willing to throw an absolute bag at him but he just didn't want to come here right now, so I don't blame the team.

Gotta face the music here... we're a 4 win team with a rookie QB who's seen as not NFL ready and isn't a "prodigy" type of prospect. It's a high tax area. It's not a "destination" type of market. Fans here loved to scream that "they hate us cuz they aint us" during the Brady years... well guess what? Most of the guys in the NFL probably grew up hating us and rooting against the team. The NFL is still more team-friendly than the NBA for example, but we're still seeing player empowerment more and more. These guys nowadays use all the leverage they can to get to where they want to go. As things stand right now, we're not going to be the place most guys want to end up if given the choice. And guys as good as Aiyuk usually have the leverage to make it their choice.

I think Wolf should start to practice some more discretion in his player pursuits. They keep pursuing these guys and offering the most money and getting turned down. It just turns you into a laughing stock. It's not even that he's doing anything wrong, but you got the whole internet laughing at you and dancing on your grave. It puts a negative energy around the team. He'd be better off staying more behind the scenes with these pursuits and looking less desperate. The optics of it are bad.

I'm disappointed we didn't land him like I said, but honestly our team sucks with him or without him. We aren't good enough where getting or not getting one player really matters much. Over the next few years, we need to start acquiring great players (or have guys on the roster develop into that), so it stinks to not get those guys as they come available. But it's not "make or break" yet for us in any way, so it doesn't phase me too much to miss on guys.

I think there’s another aspect that may become important. Instead of negative energy it could provide positive motivation. One of the best ways to motivate a professional to play with passion is disrespecting them. How many times did we see Belichick leverage that? Could this be added fuel for whatever desire is burning inside our young WRs?

 

[Huckleberry1]

Good, I would rather let the season play out, then figure out how to use their ample resources to continue building.

 

[Lagaffe_07]

The Pats “take themselves out of the running” in public fashion because that then tells the Steelers and Browns that they now have much less competition and can drop their contract offers. Aiyuk now gets less money. If he suddenly gets whiplash at the contract value he is seeing versus what NE was willing to give him he may change his mind again.

players usually goes to the highest bidder. For me it’s a classic case of Aiyuk doesn’t want to commit to us because his darling Pittsburgh is still on the table. And I agree the Pats are trying to devalue Aiyuk.

At the end of the day, I think Pittsburgh will not accept what the 49ers want otherwise I think it would already been done and Aiyuk will end up losing a ton of dollars and will regret not taking the 30M offers from us.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Seems like the trade terms were all agreed with 49ers and Patriots. Aiyuk simply refused the idea of going to the Patriots.

OK dude, go ahead and turn down the 30m per year offer. Let's see who else will go in for him.

 

[Rob0729]

There is $43,000,000 of evidence. There were dozens of free agents.
Kraft has never spent top dollar. Belichick could manage the cap to spend to it without the cash outlay other teams were willing to spend. Even if we spend to the cap we do it lean on cash.

The Patriots are 11th in the league in cash spending this year. The Patriots came into this offseason with more cap space than almost any other team. You don’t spend a lot of money on one or two year deals for older players when you are in year one of a rebuild year.

Cash Spending | Over the Cap

NFL cash spending and payroll estimates

overthecap.com

And by the reports, the Patriots were willing to overpay for Aiyuk, but he didn’t want to come here. Probably because he wants to go to Pittsburgh.

 

[slash83]

The Patriots are 11th in the league in cash spending this year. The Patriots came into this offseason with more cap space than almost any other team. You don’t spend a lot of money on one or two year deals for older players when you are in year one of a rebuild year.

Cash Spending | Over the Cap

NFL cash spending and payroll estimates

overthecap.com

And by the reports, the Patriots were willing to overpay for Aiyuk, but he didn’t want to come here. Probably because he wants to go to Pittsburgh.

That’s a slap in the face, sheesh.

 

[Lagaffe_07]

That’s a slap in the face, sheesh.

Aiyuk turn us down because he wants the Steelers and think he can get close to that with the Steelers.

I wouldn’t be shocked if he came back running to us if Pittsburgh doesn’t materialize

 

[PatsFan2]

Ok Brandon we tried now you're my least favorite WR in the League now.

 

[PatsFan2]

I swear you guys thought winning was going to last forever.

Teams in the NFL rebuild. That's all this is. A few years ago the defense was totally lacking in talent. In 2 years that was turned around. A good QB and LT is really all the team needs.

We are not unrealistic we thought the Former GM's Drafts would have been better *especially during the later Brady years*. Most of us Fans would have made better picks than him especially on Offense what might have been.

 

[Rob0729]

The Patriots are out of it now. They aren't going to be used as leverage to get Aiyuk a deal in Pittsburgh, but I wouldn't be shocked if they are back in if Pittsburgh and the 49ers cannot get a trade done and Pittsburgh ends their pursuit. There is no law that says they cannot get back in on Aiyuk if things change.

At this point, there is next to no chance he comes to New England, but until he is traded, it isn't no chance.

 

[PatsFan2]

The Patriots are out of it now. They aren't going to be used as leverage to get Aiyuk a deal in Pittsburgh, but I wouldn't be shocked if they are back in if Pittsburgh and the 49ers cannot get a trade done and Pittsburgh ends their pursuit. There is no law that says they cannot get back in on Aiyuk if things change.

At this point, there is next to no chance he comes to New England, but until he is traded, it isn't no chance.

I think we are also happy with our young guys who flashed in camp we're building in that area.

 

[sb1]

We may be the least desirable destination in all of football.

It truly is incredible how bad Mac Jones destroyed this franchise.

The former GM’s name is not spelled “Mac Jones”

 

[Rob0729]

I think we are also happy with our young guys who flashed in camp we're building in that area.

I think they are happy with the young guys. But if they were satisfied with what they had, they wouldn't have been willing to trade for Aiyuk and make him one of the top WRs in the league.

 

[Dec54]

I swear you guys thought winning was going to last forever.

Teams in the NFL rebuild. That's all this is. A few years ago the defense was totally lacking in talent. In 2 years that was turned around. A good QB and LT is really all the team needs.

Sense at last. A rebuild takes time. Yes we have needs but those needs will be addressed, but it ain't going to happen over night, just enjoy the ride.