According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, 49ers All-Pro wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has officially requested a trade “after an offseason of unsuccessful attempts to reach an extension.” Garafolo reports that despite a recent meeting, “the Niners haven’t been willing to engage in negotiations since May, so Aiyuk has respectfully asked out.”
And in the wake of this report from Garafolo, veteran NFL reporter Josina Anderson posted on X that in the “last couple of weeks,” the Patriots have reached out to the 49ers inquiring about a trade for Aiyuk. Anderson said that at that time, the 49ers told New England that Aiyuk was not being traded.
But with Aiyuk’s trade demands now being made official, should Eliot Wolf be blowing up John Lynch’s phone ASAP? WEEI’s Andy Hart says “absolutely.”
“Absolutely,” Hart said Tuesday on Gresh & Fauria. “Brandon Aiyuk has had All-Pro caliber production in San Francisco. And for a team like the Patriots that needs a true number one receiver, go for it.
“I know he’s done it within that scheme, which is player friendly. But is also - he’s got Deebo [Samuel], he’s got Christian McCaffrey, he’s got George Kittle. A lot of talent around him - that would be a drop-off for him if suddenly he’s in New England and he’s trying to be ‘the guy,’ the number one guy. But that’s true of a lot of these guys.
“Tee Higgins - right? Tee Higgins is a projection. He plays with Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase. That’s not going to be the same when you get to Drake Maye and, whoever, DeMario Douglas, that you’re playing with.”
The addition of Aiyuk would do wonders for a wide receiver room currently lacking in big name talent. As of the publishing of this story, the receiver group is as follows:
Javon Baker (Rookie)
Kawaan Baker
Kendrick Bourne
Kayshon Boutte
DeMario Douglas
JaQuae Jackson (Rookie)
K.J. Osborn
Ja’Lynn Polk (Rookie)
Jalen Reagor
JuJu Smith-Schuster
Tyquan Thornton
David Wallis (Rookie)
Patriots Training Camp gets going next Wednesday, with rookies reporting this Friday.
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