With the latest news regarding Brandon Aiyuk’s new trade request from the San Francisco 49ers after extension talks stalled (again), the Patriots are back at the forefront of the conversation regarding teams looking to possibly acquire the wide receiver.

They have been connected to Aiyuk all offseason, given their high cap space and need for a top-tier offensive weapon, which prompted Eliot Wolf to inquire during the draft about getting a trade done.

Of course, that came to no avail, but the Patriots’ efforts didn’t stop there despite double-dipping at the position by selecting Javon Baker and Ja’Lynn Polk.

Not long after the Aiyuk news broke on Tuesday morning, NFL insider Josina Anderson revealed New England had called San Francisco in recent weeks about a trade again.

John Lynch swiftly shut them down, as he did during the draft, and the team continues to insist they’re not interested in dealing Aiyuk this offseason.

But as we know, things change in the NFL with a snap of the fingers, so there is still a chance, even if only a sliver, that the 49ers will change their mind before the season begins.

Because of that possibility, the Patriots should be putting together their best possible trade package to pull off a blockbuster trade for a top-tier receiver that has alluded them for so long.

The Patriots might have the perfect trade offer to acquire Brandon Aiyuk this year

Although the Patriots don’t have many players who could match the caliber of Aiyuk, they do have an enticing option at receiver that could strengthen their overall offer.

Looking at one of the most recent wide receiver trades in the NFL, the Bills traded Stefon Diggs to the Texans with a 2024 sixth-round pick and a 2025 fifth-rounder for a second-round pick in 2025. The Patriots could try their best to replicate that in their trade but also throw in JuJu Smith-Schuster to sweeten the deal.

Clearly, there’s quite a gap between the production of Aiyuk and Smith-Schuster, so it’s not exactly an even trade. However, he’s just one season removed from recording 933 yards and three touchdowns for the Chiefs, and that was in an offense where he wasn’t the primary receiver.

If we are to believe he’s healthy this year, which he wasn’t last year, it’s possible he could repeat his production during the 2022 season in San Francisco.

That would strengthen the 49ers receiving corps, which will inevitably take a hit by shipping off Aiyuk, and also unload an unfavorable contract for the Patriots. And at the same time, the Niners would get a high return with a second-round draft pick next year, which is projected to be among the top of the round.

It’s likely the pick the Patriots would have to use to select a receiver if they chose to get their WR1 in the draft, especially since most predict they’ll have a top-5 or top-10 first-round pick and should use it on a left tackle.

If they follow that path, that could eliminate them from getting one of the top receivers of the 2025 class. Yet if they don’t trade for Aiyuk this offseason, their chances of being able to trade for a trusted veteran WR1 will also be essentially gone.

So, it might be a now-or-never situation for the new regime in Foxboro, and this trade package could be their best chance at getting the trade done.