A Patriots-Brandon Aiyuk trade, the perfect draft deal and 2 more offseason thoughts

Has it actually been only one week since free company?

Greater than $300 million and 7 days later, the Patriots have a brand new stud defensive sort out in Milton Williams; a salty No. 2 nook named Carlton Davis; a graybeard proper sort out referred to as Morgan Moses and a late-blooming linebacker, Robert Spillane, who quickly may captain Mike Vrabel’s protection.

Nonetheless, main questions and roster holes stay.

How about left sort out? Huge receiver, anybody? Will the Patriots actually head into the draft with out confirmed starters at both place — once more?

Listed below are 4 leftover ideas from free company, together with just a few fixes at receiver and sort out through commerce and the draft:

1. Brandon Aiyuk commerce deadline

The 49ers are reportedly open to dealing Aiyuk, a Patriots commerce goal final summer time after he requested out. Seems, Aiyuk’s commerce request was a negotiating tactic, as he turned down extra money from New England and Pittsburgh to remain in San Francisco on a four-year, $120 million extension. Since then, he’s torn his ACL and turned 27, whereas the Niners have actively shed wage by chopping ties with a number of veteran starters.

Permit 49ers GM John Lynch to clarify.

“Since (head coach) Kyle (Shanahan) and I’ve been right here, we’ve been the quantity two cash-spending crew. Within the final 4 years, we’re the fourth-highest cash-spending crew. So sooner or later, it’s important to reset a little bit bit, or at the very least recalibrate. You possibly can’t simply preserve urgent the pedal,” Lynch mentioned on the mix.

“I feel there’s some good that may come out of that. We have to get youthful.”

Effectively, what higher option to get youthful than swapping Aiyuk out for draft picks?

Assuming the Niners are OK taking a serious cap hit and publicly admitting Aiyuk’s extension was a mistake, let’s pull from Chapter 1 within the columnist playbook and push for a commerce. The Patriots have a necessity. Aiyuk would fill that want and the crew has the money and cap to soak up him into their books. What wouldn’t it take?

Initially, timing. The 49ers owe Aiyuk a $22.855 million option bonus that may set off April 1, which seems to be an unofficial commerce deadline for anybody buying him. If the cash-concerned Niners offload Aiyuk by the tip of the month, they keep away from guaranteeing Aiyuk that cash.

After all, there’s the matter of Aiyuk’s curiosity in New England, which was in the negatives just seven months ago. Maybe Drake Maye’s emergence and Vrabel’s arrival have modified that. Who is aware of.

What we do know is, according to Sports Illustrated, the Niners have been keen to just accept the Patriots’ provide of a 2025 second-round decide, 2026 fourth-round decide and veteran wideout Kendrick Bourne simply final August. Weighing Aiyuk’s ACL tear — which can delay his 2025 season debut — and the very fact he’s now a 12 months older, right here’s a watered-down model of the identical deal:

Patriots purchase: WR Brandon Aiyuk

49ers purchase: 2025 third-round decide (No. 77 total, through Atlanta), 2026 fourth-round decide

Right here, the Pats successfully flip Matthew Judon (shipped to Atlanta for the aforementioned third-round pick) and a fourth-rounder for Aiyuk. Higher but, Aiyuk is on a less expensive deal the Patriots would have signed him to final summer time, and the ensures in that contract would permit them to chop bait after the 2026 season, earlier than he turns 30. Who says no?

2. Travis Hunter check

If the Patriots actually take a best-player-available strategy to the draft, the No. 4 decide may provide a right away litmus check.

Colorado broad receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter is a consensus top-3 prospect on this class. Reportedly, the Patriots see him as the most effective wideout and nook within the draft. He’s a word-class athlete, with distinctive ball abilities, physique management and explosiveness.

Each revered media analyst I’ve learn, together with ex-Ravens/Eagles/Browns scout and lead NFL Network draft expert Daniel Jeremiah, ranks Hunter forward of the Patriots’ subsequent most possible decide: LSU offensive sort out Will Campbell. Like Hunter, Campbell is seen as a pro-ready starter at a place of want (pending the difficulty of his quick arms). So if Hunter slides to No. 4, will the Pats pull the set off on the higher prospect?

I’d argue sure, particularly contemplating ..

3. Commerce again

The Patriots can nonetheless nab a first-round left sort out!

Whereas Texas offensive sort out Kelvin Banks Jr. initiatives to go within the high 20, multi-year starters Josh Simmons (Ohio State) and Josh Conerly Jr. (Oregon) must be out there within the again finish of the primary spherical.

Conerly’s inventory rose after he spearheaded an effort to close down Penn State edge rusher and potential No. 1 total decide Abdul Carter, whereas Simmons was monitoring to be a top-15 decide previous to a midseason damage. Simmons additionally has expertise on the fitting aspect and is considered a high-level athlete.

If the Patriots package deal their second-round decide at No. 38 total with their remaining third-rounder (No. 69), modern trade value charts say they need to be capable to leap as excessive because the twenty fifth decide. If they should leap one other 5 spots, that ought to price a fourth-round decide. Which means, in a perfect world, the Patriots may land Aiyuk, Travis Hunter or Will Campbell, plus a first-round left sort out or broad receiver (see: Texas’ Matthew Golden) for the value of their high 4 picks.

Once more, who stays no?

4. Spending test