For the last few years, getting a clear No. 1 wide receiver on the Patriots roster has been a top priority, and it took until signing Stefon Diggs in free agency to finally accomplish that. He wasn't the most desirable player to give Drake Maye in his second season, mainly because he was coming off a season ended by an ACL tear, but he was still the caliber of pass catcher fans had been longing for.
From what we've seen from the 32-year-old in 2025, he has far exceeded all predictions for what he could do in his first season in New England. At the same time, it's clear the receiving corps is still missing something, so adding another top-name receiver might be exactly the fix.
There have been plenty of rumors surrounding Eagles' AJ Brown, due to his connection to Mike Vrabel, but if he's not available for trade, which Philadelphia has made apparent, the Patriots just got a different player to look at in Brandon Aiyuk.
GM Eliot Wolf attempted to trade for him during the 2024 offseason, but the receiver wasn't interested and seemed to be playing the long game to get a new deal with the 49ers. Since signing that contract, though, the fairytale in San Francisco has gone downhill, and now he looks to be on the trade block.
The Patriots just got the go-ahead to call the 49ers about Brandon Aiyuk
Since tearing his ACL during the 2024 season, Aiyuk has not returned to the 49ers' lineup and missed the entirety of the 2025 season. The reason for that could be a slower rehab process than expected, but the team has made their grievances with him well known over the last few months, and it appears that has come to a head now that their season is over.
While speaking to reporters on Wednesday, GM John Lynch said plainly that Aiyuk has played his last snap for the 49ers, opening the door for teams to call about his availability.
Although he already turned down the possibility of joining the Patriots, it doesn't mean they should inquire.
John Lynch on Brandon Aiyuk: "I think it's safe to say he's played his last snap with the 49ers."
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) January 21, 2026
Before his injury, Aiyuk was a superstar in the making, recording back-to-back seasons of 1,000+ receiving yards and near double-digit touchdowns, making him a highly-sought after trade candidate during the 2024 offseason.
He inevitably signed an extension to remain in San Francisco for the foreseeable future, but now that that is not happening, he will have to be traded, and the 49ers will likely not care where he goes, as long as it's for a good deal.
If the Patriots want to give Maye another top-name receiver to work with, they will either need to chase a guy like Alec Pierce in free agency, somehow manage to get their hands on a rookie in the upcoming draft class, or pull off a blockbuster trade for someone like Aiyuk.
It won't be cheap to go the trade route, but the payoff could be worth it, especially for a 27-year-old who hasn't played for an entire year. He could be what's missing in the Patriots' starting lineup, and that might be worth going all-in on.
They'll also have to consider his attitude, of course, since that is an integral part of what Mike Vrabel is trying to build behind the scenes. If they view that as an issue, they should stay away from any trade conversation.
If that's not something they view as unfixable or an immediate issue, then the door is wide open to get Aiyuk in the door.