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There are a few things in common with the 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk and the New England Patriots receiver Kendrick Bourne. For one, both receivers played with the 49ers and completed their rookie contracts with the team. But unlike Aiyuk, Bourne decided to move on to the New England Patriots after his rookie year.

Recently, Aiyuk appeared in an interview after the Super Bowl, laying down the criteria for further association with the San Fran team. He told the media that he’d have no problem staying with the Niners if they could be Super Bowl champions. But things are a bit complicated because the WR is in a contractual crunch with his team, and the Patriots QB, in light of the issue, had a special request to make of Aiyuk.

Kendrick Bourne has a request for Brandon Aiyuk

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The Patriots receiver just posted a story that was captioned, “Come to NE @brandonaiyuk.” In the Instagram Story, the Patriots receiver shared a video of Aiyuk and him practicing together. The video was posted by Arizona Sun Devil’s Instagram page in 2020. Aiyuk played for Arizona State before becoming part of the 49ers’ organization.

That’s where he played with Kendrick Bourne, who was in his last season with the San Francisco team before he moved on to the New England Patriots after playing four seasons with the team. For all we know, Brandon Aiyuk might exit the Niners because the team isn’t compensating him well for his efforts. That, too, happened after he helped the team reach the Super Bowl and was a pivotal part of it.

Aiyuk had a 1,342-yard season with seven touchdowns. Since the start of his career with the 49ers, the wide receiver has nearly put twice the stats of his rookie year. But his contract with the team might just force him to seek new arrangements.

READ MORE- Feeling ‘Like a Zombie’ Post Super Bowl, Brandon Aiyuk Reveals Idols Tom Brady & Kobe Bryant Helped Him Move On

The 49ers want to keep Aiyuk around

John Lynch, the 49ers GM, is contemplating keeping the WR close to the team. However, the 49ers might be having issues keeping their books despite a $30 million increase in the salary cap this year. Lynch talked to the media and addressed Aiyuk’s situation.

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“We have a lot of good players, a lot of good players who we’ve rewarded. Brandon’s one that we think incredibly highly of, one of my favorite guys around our building, the way he approaches the game. He’s a competitor. He’s a warrior. He plays with such physicality, also with grace, in the way some of the positions his body can get into.”

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He added, “And then he’s got a flair for making plays when [they] matter most, and he’s served us very well as a franchise. And I think we’ve got a nice track record of extending the players that are important to us, and Brandon’s the guy we want to keep around for a long time.”

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Coincidentally, Kyle Shanahan also thinks it’s a waiting game for the WR before the 49ers actually decide to give him an extension, just like they did with Nick Bosa, George Kittle, Fred Warner, and Deebo Samuel.

Do you think Aiyuk will stay with the Niners? Let us know what you think.