Fair To Give Eliot Wolf Kudos Despite Patriots’ Failed Brandon Aiyuk Pursuit?

Eliot Wolf and the New England Patriots tried.

Should that count for anything?

The Patriots executive vice president of player personnel reportedly crafted a trade the San Francisco 49ers would have agreed to. Wolf also sent a contract extension proposal to Brandon Aiyuk and his representation. The top-of-market proposal reportedly would have paid Aiyuk like a top five wideout and topped $30 million annually.

That’s an aggressive play.

Unfortunately for Wolf and company, Aiyuk had no interest in the Patriots. New England did not get a “great vibe” from Aiyuk or his agent, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, and rather than conducting any more communication, the team pulled out.

New England’s offer, however, was competitive. There’s a chance Aiyuk will not get it anywhere else. It proved Wolf and the Patriots extended themselves in hopes of bringing a talented route runner to Route One.

It was a respectable effort, no?

It definitely isn’t something fans are familiar with. Bill Belichick never would have done so. And that probably would have prompted a large portion of the fan base to blast the Patriots for not extending themselves financially. The same can’t be said this time around.

The Patriots still lost out, though. And that’s because New England is an unknown. The Patriots are at the start of a long-term rebuild. They’re not a destination. Players like Aiyuk are not willing to join a franchise with a first-year general manager, a first-year head coach and a rookie quarterback. That’s too much uncertainty, especially in the prime of his career.

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The Patriots’ failed offseason pursuit of Calvin Ridley told a similar story. One Patriot Place is not an attraction like it once was with Tom Brady and Belichick. It’s going to take time for the Patriots to get back there.

But there’s still something to be said about the effort from Wolf and the Patriots, who are trying to speed up the process and land a player who will help the developing Maye. That’s a good start.