With contract negotiations coming to a standstill, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has officially requested a trade from the San Francisco 49ers. Given Aiyuk’s status as one of the league’s premier pass catchers, teams will continue keeping a close eye on the situation — including the New England Patriots.
In fact, according to by NFL insider Josina Anderson, the Patriots had already inquired about Aiyuk “within the last couple of weeks.” At the time, the answer was that the 49ers were not open to trading the 26-year-old.
The organization still appears to have no intention of actually moving on from Aiyuk, via a report by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Nonetheless, his trade request added another dimension to what is increasingly becoming a complicated situation for all parties involved.
A first-round selection by the 49ers in the 2020 draft, Aiyuk has been the team’s most productive pass catcher of the last four seasons. In total, he has seen action in 69 regular season and playoff games and has been on the receiving end of 293 combined passes. He gained 4,314 yards and also scored 26 touchdowns, plus two more as a ball carrier.
Despite his productivity and the fifth-year contract option being exercised, San Francisco has been hesitant to give Aiyuk the long-term contract he desires. In fact, NFL Network’s Mike.
Garafolo reported on Tuesday that the 49ers “haven’t been willing to engage in negotiations since May.” Whether Aiyuk’s trade request will lead to some movement on that front remains to be seen.
If not, it seems the Patriots are at least willing to do their due diligence.
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