The New England Patriots could be in the market for another receiver. It was announced that the San Francisco 49ers plan to release wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk on Wednesday. He could be an option for the Patriots moving forward, as the need for a playmaking wide receiver continues.
Aiyuk was officially released by the 49ers organization after a stellar career with the team. The wideout recorded 294 receptions for 1,305 yards and 27 touchdowns across 69 games. He is coming off a 2025 season that saw him not play a single snap. He did not return to the team in 2025 following his knee injury.
Now, it appears that the star and the 49ers organization are parting ways, as reported by multiple media outlets.
With the new league year set to begin today, the #49ers plan to release WR Brandon Aiyuk. Could happen as soon as today, but certainly soon. Washington is the most likely landing spot for Aiyuk, probably on a one-year prove it deal.
SF is expected to use post June 1 designation,…
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) March 11, 2026
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New England Patriots Would Get Playmaker
2024 was a better indication of what he could do on the field. He had 25 receptions for 374 yards in seven games before his MCL injury. The 2023 campaign saw him record 75 receptions for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns. He was a second-team All-Pro and led the team in receiving yards.
2023 continued the strong upward trajectory that he had been building over the last two seasons. He was second in the NFL in yards per reception with 17.9.
The playmaker recorded 78 catches for 1,015 yards and eight touchdowns in 2022. This was the first year he was able to establish himself as a bona fide playmaker. He spent the 2020 and 2021 seasons getting his feet wet, and became the fastest 49ers receiver to reach 1,000 yards in the process.
The Patriots are familiar with the wide receiver. They tried to get a deal done with the 49ers before the 2024 season. They offered the wide receiver a proposed contract worth roughly $32.4 million per year. He ultimately chose to return to the 49ers instead. The Patriots have undoubtedly shown interest. However, injuries have made any sort of deal difficult.
At this point, the Patriots still need a playmaker. They released Stefon Diggs earlier in March. Since then, they have not been able to land a bona fide star. The team did add to their wide receiver room, signing former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs to a three-year deal. However, the team needs another playmaker.
A Risky Potential Signing For Patriots
Aiyuk would be a risk. His injury history is certainly something to pay attention to. Whether it be through contract disputes or health, he has not seen the field much in recent memory. With that being said, the Patriots need a downfield weapon. If mutual interest is still there, this could be an area that the Patriots explore. One has to wonder how much he has left in the tank and how much he would elevate the offense.
Nevertheless, the Patriots’ receiver options are running thin. When healthy, he is a dynamic playmaking threat. There could be a sound opportunity for the Patriots to take a flyer on him. They did this similarly with Stefon Diggs last March.
With that being said, the Patriots should feel comfortable with his health and do their homework before offering a long-term deal.
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