While the latest the news regarding San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk appears to have narrowed in scope, with the 2023 All-Pro wideout reportedly either staying put with the Niners or eventually being dealt to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the New England Patriots—one of Aiyuk's prior suitors who were essentially denied as a desirable destination—have finally spoken out about the apparent snub of playing in Foxborough.
First year head coach Jerod Mayo, who played for eight seasons under Patriots legend Bill Belichick, didn't exactly mince words when it came to the topic of Aiyuk and NFL players in general seemingly not viewing New England as a top landing spot.
Here's what Mayo had to say, per Alex Barth of 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston.
"When we start to win games, guys will want to come here," Mayo explained. "When we establish the culture, the roster, guys will be excited."
Getting such a candid, direct response from the head coach of the Patriots absolutely feels like new, unchartered territory, as Mayo basically admitted that the franchise still needs to get the engine moving in the right direction and prove itself again as a legitimate contender in order for top stars like Aiyuk to view the storied franchise as an enticing one to play for.
And Mayo's certainly not wrong there. Whether New England's relatively uncertain quarterback situation evolves into immediate playing time for rookies Drake Maye and the somewhat surprising Joe Milton III, or some combination of Baily Zappe and veteran Jacoby Brissett, none of those options lining up under center for the Patriots are exactly setting off fireworks across the league.
Remember, the Patriots and 49ers had previously established the framework of a deal to send Aiyuk to New England, with the incredibly crucial element of the All-Pro's blessing of the trade being the only thing remaining. As we quickly learned, given Aiyuk's apparent disinterest, things failed to progress from there and the Patriots would soon exit themselves from trade talks with the 49ers.
As for what's next, Aiyuk has continued to attend 49ers practice but has only participated in meetings and has yet to take the field as he awaits the roller coaster status of his situation to finally be resolved, one way or another.
However, there's no telling how soon this summer-long story will find its ending since Aiyuk not only seeks a massive extension but also has both hands on the wheel when it comes to a possible new landing spot, while the 49ers are understandably seeking proper compensation for arguably one of the team's best players.
The star wideout still remains under contract with San Francisco for the 2024 season and is slated to earn $14.124 million on a team-exercised fifth-year option, which is well below the market value for a top NFL receiver.