Patriots Spurned by All-Pro Despite Shocking Contract Offer

After trade rumors dragged on for several months, the Brandon Aiyuk saga ended the way it began - with Aiyuk remaining a San Francisco 49er.

Aiyuk, a second-team All-Pro in 2023, had been demanding a new contract as he was slated to enter the final year of his rookie deal in 2024. The NFL receiver contract market has exploded within the past year, and the Niners wideout was looking to cash in on that following a standout season. As the saga lingered, buzz continued to build that Aiyuk could be traded.

The New England Patriots, in desperate need of an injection of talent at receiver, were one of the teams most closely linked to Aiyuk.

Ultimately, the standoff came to a conclusion on Friday, when Aiyuk and the 49ers agreed on a four-year, $120 million contract extension to keep the the 26-year-old with the defending NFC champions.

Now that Aiyuk's future is settled, more information has emerged revealing just how close the Patriots were to landing him. Per Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, "If this was just about the money, in every way New England would have won."

According to Breer, the Patriots' final offer was reportedly in excess of $32 million annually over four years. This would mean that New England's offer carried a higher average annual value than the $30 million per year that Aiyuk accepted to remain in the Bay Area. The amount of guaranteed money in the respective contract offers is a key variable, but Breer was dismissive of the idea that was the deciding factor in Aiyuk's decision. Aiyuk's deal reportedly carries $76 million in "practical guarantees".

Breer also detailed the trade package that Eliot Wolf offered to San Francisco: a 2025 second-rounder, a 2026 fourth-rounder, and former Niners receiver Kendrick Bourne. Earlier in August, Diana Russini of The Athletic reported that San Francisco was "OK with" the trade chips that the Patriots were offering.

So if New England's monetary offer was the strongest and San Francisco approved the Patriots' trade offer, why isn't Aiyuk a Patriot? Well, the answer is a sobering reminder of how far New England has fallen. In a post-Tom Brady, post-Bill Belichick era, there were reports that Aiyuk had concerns over the Patriots' quarterback situation and competitiveness. According to Russini:

"Aiyuk did not want to go play for New England is what I was told. He does not believe the quarterback position is at the level that he wants it to be at right now, and he wants to be on a team that he believes can make a run in the playoffs. He doesn't see New England as being that type of team."

- Diana Russini

How events transpired with Aiyuk should be concerning for Patriots fans. New England was willing to shell out significant money and draft capital for a premier talent, yet couldn't push the deal over the finish line. If Tom Brady is still in New England and the Patriots are still winning Super Bowls, Brandon Aiyuk is a New England Patriot.

After also being spurned by another receiver, Calvin Ridley in free agency, declining player interest in playing for the Patriots is continuing to be evident. It is naive to think that Aiyuk and Ridley are the only players with that perception of the Patriots' standing in the league.

Quite frankly, it is a predicament that is only healed through winning. If the Patriots re-establish themselves as an AFC contender, players will again be interested in playing for the team. Until then, it is going to be tough sledding to get top talent to come to New England.

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