Brandon Aiyuk’s reported rationale for rejecting the New England Patriots isn’t surprising — but that doesn’t mean he’s right.
Earlier this week, the Patriots and Cleveland Browns reportedly agreed with the San Francisco 49ers on “frameworks” of trades involving Aiyuk. But while Cleveland might still be pursuing Aiyuk, the Patriots have since dropped out of the sweepstakes after not getting a great “vibe” from the star receiver.
Multiple reports indicate that Aiyuk, who wants a new contract and essentially controls his destiny, prefers joining the Pittsburgh Steelers over the Patriots and Browns. And we now know why, thanks to a new report.
Why Brandon Aiyuk Isn’t Interested in Joining Patriots
During a Friday podcast appearance, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini revealed the Patriots offered Aiyuk a contract worth roughly $32.5 million annually. She also explained why the offer wasn’t enough for the 26-year-old.
“Aiyuk did not want to go play for New England,” Russini said. “He does not believe the quarterback position is at the level he wants it to be at right now.”
Russini added: “New England was rolling out the cash to get [Aiyuk] there and he denied them.”
Brandon Aiyuk remains a 49er — for now.
Which teams are in the running to trade for the Second Team All-Pro?
And why did the Patriots pull out of the race?@DMRussini shares the details with @ChaseDaniel.
Listen: https://t.co/myxFr0Elbo pic.twitter.com/AChTVmwoTU
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) August 9, 2024
The Patriots currently project to have Jacoby Brissett as their starting quarterback, with rookie Drake Maye, the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, serving as the top backup. Fellow rookie project Joe Milton III also faces a long developmental road.
Meanwhile, the Steelers have 35-year-old Russell Wilson and 25-year-old Justin Fields vying for the No. 1 job after being discarded by their former teams.
So, is Aiyuk justified in spurning the Patriots in favor of Pittsburgh?
PFN Analysis: Is Patriots’ QB Situation Actually Worse Than Pittsburgh’s?
This is a complicated debate.
On the one hand, Pittsburgh’s QB situation might be better than New England’s for this season. Wilson is on the back nine but arguably remains a slight upgrade over Brissett, whereas Fields, for all his flaws, is far more experienced than Maye. Fields has started 38 games and seen some success, whereas Maye might not be ready to start until 2025.
If Aiyuk is emphasizing the here-and-now, you can see why he’d prefer the Steelers. On the other hand, most, if not all, NFL general managers would rather be the Patriots.
You could argue Brissett now has a higher floor than Wilson, who looked washed up in 2023 and could be even worse next season. And there isn’t a single team that would take Fields, who yielded just a sixth-round pick in an offseason trade, over Maye, who’s a flawed prospect but has franchise QB potential.
The NFL has told you what it thinks of Fields. There aren’t many people left who believe he can be a viable starting quarterback. With Maye, you still can dream big despite his boom-or-bust potential.
So, it might come down to Aiyuk not wanting to wait around to see whether Maye is the real deal. But you still could make the case he’d be better off this season catching passes from Brisset than Maye, Fields, or Wilson.
Regardless, Aiyuk’s apparent rejection of the Patriots is another harsh reality check for a rebuilding franchise.
