Can confirm via a team source that the Patriots have ended their pursuit of 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk at this time, as Adam Schefter first reported.
Sources: After inquiring about Brandon Aiyuk’s availability, the Patriots have decided not to explore any further trade possibilities with the 49ers regarding their standout wide receiver. Patriots are excited about their young receivers and want to focus on them. pic.twitter.com/RglYQJBmAx
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 7, 2024
Furthermore, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reported that Aiyuk "did not show interest in going there."
BSJ ANALYSIS
Well, that's disappointing for the team, and not all that much of a surprise once the process started to drag on and more teams got into the mix.
While I understand what they did - Aiyuk obviously didn't want them, and that's a tough look. But we all know this is not about their young receivers, not that I blame them for putting that out there. They didn't really have another choice.
There will be a lot of criticism in some parts towards the Patriots for this outcome.
What I would say to that is ... well, yes, the Patriots are not exactly a destination at this point. Breaking news. They have a first-year unheralded head coach, a depleted roster that won four games last year, no defined franchise quarterback or left tackle, and an offense that almost entirely is in the process of being rebuilt. And nearly all of that, you can blame on the departed predecessor to Jerod Mayo.
This is just the spot they are in ... right now. No one currently in the building at One Patriot Place is to blame. I mean, you could make the argument that if the Krafts didn't name Mayo the successor and hired Mike Vrabel or some hotshot young offensive mind (perhaps from the 49ers staff), could it have been different? Maybe ... but no one can say that for certain.
What do we know?
It's Year 1 After Bill. It's Year 5 After Tom. The Patriots are a rebuilding team. There normally has to be a Year 0 for that, and this is it.
We also know that Eliot Wolf, after trying for Calvin Ridley and Aiyuk, is not going to rest until he finds that special receiver weapon for the offense. And that could come in the next month, or at the trade deadline, or in free agency next offseason, or the draft.
What's important is for the Patriots to build something that will be sustainable, a consistent winner and universally attractive to players around the league. That doesn't happen overnight. It just can't take very long. I can assure you that Wolf knows that better than anyone.