Patriots Football Daily: Kendrick Bourne Recruits Brandon Aiyuk

New England Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne stated one of his goals in 2024 was to become a team captain. It appears Bourne might also be throwing his hat in the ring to become New England’s next general manager. Bourne took to Instagram yesterday to encourage San Francisco 49ers wide receiver to join the Patriots.

Unfortunately, Aiyuk is not a free agent so bringing him to New England will not be as easy as Aiyuk signing with the team. He remains under contract with San Francisco, though reports indicate he may need to be traded over salary cap concerns. The Patriots would have to relinquish draft capital to obtain Aiyuk, in addition to inking him to a new deal. The likely salary for the wideout would start at $25 million annually.

Aiyuk is entering his fifth NFL season. He has been excellent for the 49ers and over the past two seasons, he made the jump from very good to great. He is coming off of back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons for in Francisco.

In 2022, Aiyuk caught 78 passes for 1,015 yards and eight touchdowns. Last season he registered 75 receptions for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns. He is one of ten wide receivers with 150 receptions, 2,000 yards, and 15 touchdowns over the past two years.

Pro Football Focus graded Brandon Aiyuk as the second-best wide receiver in the NFL in 2023. His grade of 91.5 trailed only Tyreek Hill of the Miami Dolphins. He was voted to the second-team All-Pro team despite being a Pro Bowl snub. Any team trading for him is obtaining an elite talent.

With Stefon Diggs recently being trade for a 2025 second-round pick, perhaps New England could offer a pair of picks in 2024 to land Aiyuk? Would second-round (No. 34) and sixth-round (No. 193) selections be enough to seal the deal?

Kendrick Bourne and Brandon Aiyuk were teammates in San Francisco in 2020.

Also in today’s Patriots Football Daily:

New England Patriots

Former Patriots cornerback Logan Ryan retires from the NFL

Top 21 available free agents for New England to target

New England Patriots Roster Breakdown

Bryce Baringer solidified as Pats punter

Can Tyquan Thornton breakout in 2024?

NFL Draft

Dan Kelley’s Seven-Round 2024 NFL Mock Draft

Ranking the Top 20 Quarterbacks in the 2024 NFL Draft

Top 30 Visits

North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye

Mississippi State linebacker Nathaniel Watson

Kanas edge defender Austin Booker

Boston Bruins

Go to our sibling site Boston Hockey Now to check out the great Boston Bruins coverage from Jimmy Murphy and the BHN team. The NHL season is underway and plenty is happening in the Bruins 100 Anniversary season.

Boston Hockey Now – Bruins complacent in 4-1 loss to Hurricanes

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Football Fun Fact of the Day

J.J. McCarthy is the youngest quarterback prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft. McCarthy turned 21 on January 20. Even if the New England Patriots drafted McCarthy and played him in Week 1, he would not be the youngest QB to appear in a game for the Patriots. That distinction will still belong to Drew Bledsoe, who was 21 years and 203 days old when he made his NFL debut for New England.

Either J.J. McCarthy or Drake Maye could have an opportunity to move into second on the list for New England. That distinction is currently held by Steve Grogan (22 years, 59 days).

Post of the Day

Today’s post is from WBZ’s Dan Roche with an emotional first pitch on Opening Day at Fenway Park yesterday…

Brianna Wakefield throwing out the ceremonial 1st pitch to Jason Varitek. ⚾️❤️

This one got me. Had me in tears. #OpeningDay #RedSox pic.twitter.com/lOspxytZyd

— Dan Roche (@RochieWBZ) April 9, 2024