The New England Patriots are in dire need of help in their aerial attack, and wide receiver Kendrick Bourne is doing his best to help bring it to them.

Bourne has been actively recruiting San Francisco 49ers star Brandon Aiyuk on social media with recent trade speculation swirling around Aiyuk.

Bourne and Aiyuk were once teammates with the 49ers, so if anyone would have an inside track to convincing Aiyuk to join the Patriots, it’s Bourne.

Aiyuk is preparing to enter the final year of his deal, and due to financial constraints, San Francisco may have a very difficult time paying him long term.

The 26-year-old has also made it pretty clear that he is not willing to take any hometown discounts, so if the Niners want to retain him, they are going to have to open their wallets.

Aiyuk is coming off of a terrific 2023 campaign in which he played 16 games and hauled in 75 receptions for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns, establishing himself as the 49ers’ obvious No. 1 receiver over Deebo Samuel, who has two years remaining on his own deal.

San Francisco has to worry about paying quarterback Brock Purdy and has plenty of other expensive players on the books, so at some point, the Niners will have to make some tough decisions.

That may mean trading Aiyuk.

Of course, the 49ers are trying to win a Super Bowl next season, so they may just opt to hold on to Aiyuk for one more season and take their chances with him in free agency next year.

New England had its sights set on Calvin Ridley in free agency last month, but Ridley spurned the Pats to sign with the Tennessee Titans. The Patriots have been unable to pivot and are still very thin at the wide receiver position as a result.

If Aiyuk does become available, expect New England to make a serious push for him, and expect Bourne to be in his ear.

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