Here’s what the Patriots reportedly offered the 49ers for WR Brandon Aiyuk

The New England Patriots were reportedly one of five teams willing to offer a big contract to disgruntled San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.

However, there was one hurdle the Patriots failed to overcome in their bid for the All-Pro receiver: They failed to agree on a deal with the 49ers.

According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the Patriots traded a second-round pick ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft for Aiyuk. That pick started out as the 34th overall selection to New England, and the team used it to move up to the 37th pick for rookie receiver Ja’Lynn Polk.

If the 49ers passed on the 34th pick, that means they may have been looking for a first-round pick for Aiyuk.

The 26-year-old receiver is in the final year of his contract and is looking to secure a long-term extension. His services won’t come cheap in a hot receiver market after a season in which he had 75 receptions for a career-high 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns.

The Patriots currently lead the NFL in available salary cap space, so they are in a position to pay Aiyuk the money he is asking for on a new contract.

Their willingness to spend big money, as well as trade a high second-round draft pick, shows some aggression on their part to get a major receiving weapon.

Personnel Director Eliot Wolf literally put his money where his mouth is when he said he wanted to “militarize” the attack.