Patriots reporter addresses if team will trade for top wide receiver

On Friday, Patriots beat reporter Chris Mason of MassLive addressed whether the club could trade for a top-tier wide receiver such as Brandon Aiyuk of the 49ers before Week 1 of the upcoming season. 

"I don’t see a logical fit among the No. 1 wideouts that could become available," Mason explained. "San Francisco’s Brandon Aiyuk is the best wide receiver that might wind up on the trade block, but he’d likely cost a first-round pick, and I don’t think the Patriots should part with their 2025 first-rounder. Staring down an obvious multi-year rebuild, there’s a good chance that’s a top 10 pick again next year, if not top five."

Aiyuk is in the final year of his rookie contract and seemingly isn't close to signing an extension ahead of Memorial Day. However, San Francisco general manager John Lynch has strongly suggested he's keeping both Aiyuk and fellow wideout Deebo Samuel through the summer as the 49ers attempt to return to the Super Bowl following their loss to the Kansas City Chiefs this past February. 

Samuel is signed through the 2025 season and, like Aiyuk, has been the subject of some trade rumors since before this year's draft. 

Mason added in Friday's piece that he'd "be surprised" if the Cincinnati Bengals traded Tee Higgins "for anything less than a" first-round draft pick. The Bengals retained Higgins' rights for 2024 via the franchise tag, and his future with that club is very much so up in the air. Per Ben Baby of ESPN, Higgins said last month he anticipates playing for Cincinnati this coming fall. 

"The Patriots aren’t one player away from being a playoff team," Mason added. "They’re better off biding their time in 2024 than mortgaging their future." 

Many believe the Patriots should start veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett over rookie Drake Maye in September because of a perceived lack of offensive weapons. ESPN NFL analyst Damien Woody mentioned last week that "a lot more work needs to be done" regarding New England's ongoing rebuild.

As of Friday, DraftKings Sportsbook listed New England's over/under win total for the 2024 campaign at 4.5. That says plenty about why Mason and others think now isn't the time for the Patriots to spend a first-round pick on a talent they'd immediately have to sign to an extension.