3 Realistic Brandon Aiyuk Trade Packages the Patriots Can Offer the 49ers
By Ryan Bunton
3. 2026 1st Round Pick
The most probable framework appears to be a 2025 second-round pick + a player from New England to San Francisco for Aiyuk. A 2026 first-rounder would be a steep price, but if the Patriots aren't able to include a player in the exchange going to the 49ers, San Francisco general manager John Lynch could demand a first-rounder.
The Niners would certainly try to kick the tires on a 2025 first-rounder, but the Patriots are widely anticipated to be one of the worst teams in the league in 2024 and will likely be picking in the top-10 of the 2025 NFL Draft. New England's second-rounder carries more value given expectations of a single-digit win season for the 2024 Pats, as the pick is expected to land in the 33-40 overall range.
It is nearly impossible to predict how the 2025 Patriots will perform at this point in time, so a 2026 first-rounder would carry less value as a trade chip.
The 49ers, who are in a win-now mode after coming up just short in overtime in Super Bowl LVIII, could even turn around and use that first-rounder to acquire immediate impact players to chase an elusive sixth Lombardi Trophy. Comparatively, this is a far less attractive avenue from the Patriots' perspective.