There are a variety of reasons why the New England Patriots are just one win away from reaching the franchise’s 12th Super Bowl appearance. One that doesn’t get talked about as much is their improved play from their receiving corps, which, not long ago, was considered among the league’s worst.
Before landing wide receiver Stefon Diggs, Executive Vice President of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf made several strong pursuits for a wide receiver in the last two years, most notably for San Francisco 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Despite reportedly offering more guaranteed money than the 49ers, Aiyuk ultimately chose to stay, agreeing to a four-year, $120 million contract extension with the team.
Although the Patriots struck out, it’s looking like they could have another shot at acquiring the former second-team All-Pro less than 17 months after his signing. During the end-of-season press conference on Wednesday, 49ers general manager John Lynch told reporters (h/t @nwagoner) that Aiyuk has “played his last snap as a Niner."
The announcement comes following The Athletic's Dianna Russini and Michael Silver’s November report that Aiyuk hadn't been participating in team activities, which led to voiding the guaranteed money in his contract for 2026 and ultimately setting up his release.
But just because Aiyuk is leaving the Bay Area doesn't mean that the Patriots should pursue him this offseason.
Patriots Should Avoid Signing Brandon Aiyuk At All Costs
With the Patriots, Aiyuk could’ve received more money and would’ve been the top option, yet it was evident from the start that he never wanted to leave San Francisco. For Patriots fans, it was initially disappointing that the team was unable to land Aiyuk. However, Aiyuk passing up on New England has been a blessing in disguise.
Since the Patriots still desired acquiring a number one receiver in the offseason, they signed Diggs. Unlike Aiyuk, Diggs was a much cheaper option, signing a three-year, $69 million deal with only $26 million guaranteed, and has been instrumental in the team’s turnaround.
Not only has Diggs been an impactful contributor, recording 85 receptions for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns, but he’s quickly become one of the leaders of the locker room. Without a doubt, Diggs’ leadership has been more valuable than his on-field production. He’s taken a leadership role in the wide receivers' room, and it has boosted their performance.
The Patriots are playing for a chance to go to the Super Bowl in part because of Diggs. The same cannot be said if the Patriots had Aiyuk.
With Aiyuk set to become a free agent, and even though they had interest in him before, the Patriots should avoid him at all costs. Even if he wants to sign for the minimum. Aiyuk had his chance to become a Patriot, and he didn’t want to. Head coach Mike Vrabel only deserves players who want to be here, not those who view New England as a backup plan.
After all, Aiyuk is a terrible teammate, and he also displayed regression before going down with a torn ACL and MCL. In only seven games in 2024, Aiyuk wasn’t much of a factor for the 49ers, logging just 25 receptions for 374 yards. That put him on pace for 61 catches and 907 yards in 17 games — not the worst, but also not the player he once was.
While the Patriots are extremely thankful they aren’t dealing with Aiyuk and his contract, hopefully, they can learn from what's going on in San Francisco and stay away from Aiyuk.