3 teams that'd love to pry Brandon Aiyuk away from 49ers

2. New England Patriots

The New England Patriots' name has come up the past few years as a potential suitor for either one of the 49ers' star receivers, Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel. They still have more than $45 million in cap space this season and have more than $115 million going into 2025 as of now.

They have the ability to tender a lucrative deal to Aiyuk and become a threat to score again. The Pats' wide receivers from last year did not strike fear in opposing teams' secondaries.

Kendrick Bourne, also a former 49er, saw his season end early after eight games. Before tearing his ACL, he collected 37 receptions for 406 yards and four touchdowns.

While on pace to have his best season as a Patriot, yet, JuJu Smith-Schuster did not live up to the hype in his first year following him signing a three-year contract as he only took one pass to the end zone. He was benched for the season after New England won on the Thursday night game in early Decemberm upsetting the Pittsburgh Steelers, his first team in the league.

Rookie DeMario Douglas offered some encouragement when quarterbacks Mac Jones or Bailey Zappe was throwing to him. Douglas caught the ball 49 times and accounted for 561 yards but no touchdowns.

The Patriots did add K.J. Osborn in free agency who had a decent year in Minneapolis with the Minnesota Vikings. The 27-year-old did not record a game with over 100 yards but did finish with 95 of them against the Detroit Lions and 99 at the Green Bay Packers last season.

With the addition of Aiyuk (and him signing a long-term deal for big money), the third overall selection in this year's draft, quarterback Drake Maye, is primed to have a play down field to extend the changes and light up the scoreboard.