The New England Patriots have decided not to explore further trade options with the San Francisco 49ers for the standout wide receiver after inquiring about his availability, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Tuesday.
According to ESPN, the Patriots were one of three teams that contacted the Niners about a possible trade for Ayuk, along with the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers.
New England has been trying to sign Ayuk for months, and it has been a slow process on their part, according to sources. New England is willing to make Ayuk one of the NFL’s top five highest-paid wide receivers in terms of average salary, the sources said.
Aiyuk, a second-team All-Pro and the Niners’ top receiver in the 2023 class, was at the team facility Tuesday but did not participate in practice as he continued to hold. During the team’s first 11 training camp practices, the 26-year-old was often seen watching practice from the sidelines, but that hasn’t been the case in the past few sessions. However, he has attended meetings and participated regularly.
The San Francisco Niners confirmed early Tuesday morning that Ayuk has been cleared to negotiate with other teams, but there is still a chance a deal could be made to keep Ayuk in San Francisco.
“It’s really nothing new to me because it’s just gotten to this point,” coach Kyle Shanahan said Tuesday. “It’s always frustrating when you can’t keep all your guys or things don’t go right. I don’t like losing anybody, so I’m hoping for the best here. But it’s not done yet. I’m hoping for the best.”
According to sources, the situation could lead to several outcomes, including Aiyuk staying with the 49ers and exercising the fifth-year option on his rookie contract, which would make him $14.124 million. Other teams are willing to pay Aiyuk more than double that, according to sources, but he has so far balked at multiple offers.
The 49ers would also have to be willing to accept any trade compensation, and ESPN’s sources say the reigning NFC champions are willing to keep Ayuk.
“Brandon is a great player, so it’s really hard to get better when you lose a great player,” Shanahan said. “We have to look at things. We have to understand the situation we’re in, what it looks like, and it takes time. So hopefully, everything works out best for him and best for us long term.”
Talks between the Steelers and 49ers were stalled until Monday night, but Schefter’s sources said the two teams resumed trade discussions Tuesday, with other teams still involved in the fluid situation.
Asked about reports linking the Browns to Ayuk and whether he could be a player who could help Cleveland, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said, “I’m not really interested in reports or speculation. … I’m just focused on today and practice.”
Stefanski also said he would keep confidential any conversations he had with Cleveland wide receiver Amari Cooper, whose name was mentioned in a hypothetical trade with Ayuk.
A first-round pick by the Niners in 2020, Aiyuk had 75 catches for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns last season.
ESPN’s Mike Rice, Nick Waggoner and Daniel Oyefusi contributed to this report.
