What NFL Reporter Expects Of Patriots After Brandon Aiyuk Fallout

The New England Patriots weren't able to acquire star wideout Brandon Aiyuk from the San Francisco 49ers, adding yet another premier offseason target to the organization's ongoing list of failed pursuits.

Aiyuk's spent the greater bulk of the offseason seeking an avenue of escape from San Francisco in search of a big-dollar, multi-year extension. Yet, as rumors indicated the Patriots were among those willing to pay Aiyuk -- reportedly upwards of over $30 million in annual salary -- the 26-year-old still rejected an agreed-upon framework trade between New England and the 49ers. This put an abrupt ending to the chances of Aiyuk landing in Foxboro as on Tuesday night, the Patriots retracted their interest and trade offer to San Francisco, begging the obvious question: What's next?

"I think it's gonna take another offseason to stock the roster and get them where they need to go," ESPN's Mike Reiss told 98.5 The Sports Hub's "Felger & Mazz" on Wednesday. "... I'm just looking at the offensive line and I'm just wondering how they're gonna protect. Vederian Lowe has been the left tackle for six of the practices and there's just more holes. For me, having seen it at the highest level with Tom (Brady), I have to remind myself not to always try to measure it up to that."

New England did take a few progressive steps forward, most notably by adding a trio of quarterbacks, including two from the 2024 NFL Draft -- Drake Maye and Joe Milton III. To provide those two youngsters with some veteran guidance, the Patriots signed Jacoby Brissett in free agency, who the organization, too, drafted back in 2016. They hired Jerod Mayo as Bill Belichick's replacement, but that patient, multi-month-long transformation still isn't enough to sway the general public, especially following a putrid 4-13 finish in 2023. Aiyuk certainly would've provided a glimmer of hope but instead, he'll join DeAndre Hopkins and Calvin Ridley as New England's offseason "what ifs."