Patriots named top destination for disgruntled receiver looking for trade

One of the hottest topics of conversation surrounding the Patriots this offseason has been their need to make a blockbuster trade for the WR1 they desperately need. At the top of the list of desirable options has been Brandon Aiyuk and Tee Higgins, both of whom remain unhappy with their current teams.

Higgins has been connected to New England for the past two years, mainly because he was in line for a new contract, which the Bengals don't appear interested in giving. They avoided negotiations again this year by placing the franchise tag on the receiver for the 2024 season, driving a bigger wedge between the two parties.

He has since signed the franchise tender and is expected to play on it for the season ahead, even if it is begrudgingly.

Aiyuk, however, is much more vocal about his displeasure over the lack of contract talks between him and the 49ers. He has made it clear that he wants an extension with a hefty payday, even more so now that we've seen how Justin Jefferson's contract stacks up.

San Francisco may have shot themselves in the foot by holding out getting a deal done with the impressive receiver since now he'll want even more money than he was likely initially asking for.

Because a deal doesn't appear to be close to happening, it seems like Aiyuk could be traded sometime this summer. Fortunately for the receiver-needy Patriots, they've now been named one of the most ideal destinations for him.

Patriots named top destination for disgruntled receiver looking for trade

With Aiyuk's future in the Bay Area looking more uncertain by the day, there's a lot of talk about where he might play for the 2024 season.

The Patriots are considered a possible trade partner due to their needs on offense and their $45 million remaining in cap space, which CBS Sports' Cody Benjamin believes is just the foundation of why New England would be an excellent fit for Aiyuk.

"Aiyuk may not be itching to hop aboard a rebuilding team after enjoying four years of playoff contention in the Bay Area. New England has money to spare, however, boasting $45 million in cap space under new coach Jerod Mayo, plus a flashy quarterback of the future in Drake Maye. Desperately lacking a bona fide No. 1, the Pats might be best-positioned to outbid competition."

Aiyuk would be a perfect fit into the Patriots' developing offense, so much so that even former teammate Kendrick Bourne has expressed his interest in reuniting in Foxboro.

While that sounds like a great idea, the problem the Patriots will run into is the 49ers' stubbornness in what they'd want in return for the receiver. Teams have been in contact with GM John Lynch before and during the 2024 NFL Draft but were unsuccessful in getting a trade done.

It has been reported that San Francisco is hellbent on a specific price for Aiyuk and unwilling to budge, so the Patriots would need to put up their best possible offer in a trade to acquire the 26-year-old.

They have the cap space to pay him this year and the future, so that's not the issue. It would be more about what player(s) the 49ers might want in return or draft capital, which Eliot Wolf might not be too keen on giving up, considering his philosophy on building a team through the draft and not free agency.

But at the same time, it will be something New England must consider, given their options for a WR1 in next year's free agency and the continuously shrinking trade market for a player of that caliber. If they want to add a proven game-changing receiver, they might have to give up a lot to get it done.

They will have to evaluate if the price will be worth the potential reward.

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