Over the past month, what the Patriots can and cannot do with the No. 4 overall pick has been highly debated, with many asserting that the chances of them trading down have become increasingly limited as the draft nears. Because it's not an impressive quarterback class, teams won't be banging down New England's door to snag one of the best prospects, which could mean they're stuck with their pick.
If that is in their future, some solid players are expected to be available for them to choose from, with the continued hope being that Colorado CB/WR Travis Hunter will fall into their lap. Although that has also become less likely in recent weeks, the rise of LSU left tackle Will Campbell has dominated mock drafts for the Patriots, filling another significant need ahead of the 2025 season, especially with Drake Maye in mind.
But even with all that well-known mere days before the draft, some have played around with the Patriots trading out of their pick and still addressing positions of need, with the offensive line at the forefront.
ESPN's Bill Barnwell did just that in a new mock draft where every pick is traded. The Patriots are fortunate to find a partner to move down the line a bit and still acquire the players they need.
The 'Brandon Aiyuk to the Patriots' saga continues in a new mock draft
In Barnwell's latest mock draft, instead of having the Patriots trade down to add more picks to the repertoire or take an unsuspected player in the first round, he has them trade with the 49ers to pick No. 11, allowing them to still draft a tackle like Will Campbell or Armand Membou.
What makes his trade more interesting, however, is that the 49ers would also send WR Brandon Aiyuk, while the Patriots would send guard/potential center Cole Strange to San Francisco. Because the NFC West team has seemed to be on a selling spree this offseason, Barnwell believes this move would be to draft Travis Hunter to pair him with Brock Purdy and boost an offense that Christian McCaffrey predominantly leads.
On the surface, it seems like a win/win scenario for both teams, especially since the Patriots (and 49ers) need more help with their receiving corps and offensive line.
However, the Patriots adding another receiver recovering from a serious injury from last season doesn't sound like the best idea, even if the questions surrounding Stefon Diggs' readiness have been seemingly put to rest. If Aiyuk were healthy and ready to go in Week 1, it would be an absolute no-brainer, and Maye would be in one of the best positions possible for his second season.
That's not a reality, though, since Aiyuk suffered his injury in Week 7 and tore both his ACL and MCL, pushing out his return date much more than Diggs'. There's a chance he could be ready much sooner than anticipated, but no updates have been reported regarding his status, making it seem more unlikely that he would be back on the field when the Patriots would need him.
It is hard to overlook the idea of having a wide receiver room led by Aiyuk and Diggs, though. The image of Maye having two dominant players at their position to throw to on game day is not a scenario any Patriots fan could have dreamt of, making this mock trade idea a bit more fun to consider.
It wouldn't be a terrible idea if the Patriots are not thrilled with their choices at No. 4 and if the 49ers are the only team calling about trading up. Despite them already having paid Aiyuk a nearly $23 million bonus seemingly solidifying his spot on the 2025 roster, never say never is a motto to live by in the NFL, which would explain Barnwell's thinking.
If it's a real possibility and the Patriots feel comfortable with who they could get in the trade down, it could be a great move. There will just be a lot to consider before agreeing to a deal, with Aiyuk's health and the potential of still having a solid left tackle to draft leading the way.