NFL Insider Offers Context To Rumored Patriots-49ers Trade Talks

Brandon Aiyuk trade talks heated up Monday night, and the Patriots still are in the running.

New England and the Cleveland Browns have worked out a framework for a deal to acquire the star wide receiver from the San Francisco 49ers, according to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco. The reported deal would have the Patriots trade Kendrick Bourne to San Fran along with a package of undisclosed draft picks. The rumored talks also included a contract extension, and it’s up to the 26-year-old wideout to decide which deal he prefers.

The Patriots reportedly made a trade offer to the Niners back when Aiyuk requested a trade, but San Francisco rejected the deal with the optimism it could retain him. A second-round pick was included in that deal, though it wasn’t specified what year the pick was in. And it also included a contract extension Aiyuk has been seeking this offseason.

This framework remains unchanged, and the deal the Patriots are working out with the Niners is still the same, according to NFL insider Josina Anderson on Monday. This is a deal New England reportedly has been working on for months, and ESPN’s Mike Reiss added Tuesday that it’s been a “slow process” from its end.

New England will continue to play the waiting game and hope Aiyuk chooses it. The Pittsburgh Steelers reportedly are out of the running for the wide receiver, so the Patriots will have one less suitor to worry about.