Insider addresses if Patriots will trade for star 49ers WR

It appears the Pittsburgh Steelers aren't the only team moving on from possibly landing a big-name wide receiver such as Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel of the San Francisco 49ers via a springtime trade. 

Per Jordan Daly of NBC Sports Boston, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated poured cold water over any idea of the New England Patriots acquiring Aiyuk, Samuel or a similar weapon ahead of training camp during an appearance on the NBC Sports Boston "Arbella Early Edition" program. 

"I would say it's unlikely," Breer explained. "I think what made things more difficult was the contracts that were signed by Amon-Ra St. Brown, $28M a year — A.J. Brown, $32M a year — you're not just talking about draft pick compensation now. You're talking about something on the other end of it, which is a massive, massive contract."

Last week, the Patriots spent a second-round draft pick on Washington Huskies receiver Ja'Lynn Polk before they made UCF Knights wideout Javon Baker a fourth-round selection. However, multiple analysts mentioned earlier this week that one reason New England shouldn't name rookie quarterback Drake Maye its Week 1 starter is because the club still lacks a true No. 1 receiver. 

Nevertheless, Breer believes the Patriots won't pay in multiple ways for either Aiyuk or Samuel. 

"If you're going to trade for one of these guys, they have the leverage in a contract negotiation," Breer noted. "They say, 'I'm only going there if I'm getting $32M, $33M, $34M per year.' Do you want to allot the majority of the $50M or so that a quarterback on a rookie contract would give you to that one player?"  

Aiyuk is in the final year of his rookie contract but is also the favorite target of San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy. Samuel, meanwhile, is signed through the 2025 season. 

49ers general manager John Lynch strongly suggested on Thursday that neither Aiyuk nor Samuel will be traded by a club that is looking to make a second straight trip to the Super Bowl. Breer acknowledged that he thinks "it's more likely those guys end up sticking on their team" through the summer. 

If nothing else, Breer's update served as a reminder that New England's roster rebuild can't and won't be completed in one offseason.