Kendrick Bourne’s Appeal to Brandon Aiyuk Strays From Patriots’ New Homegrown Approach

Kendrick Bourne and Brandon Aiyuk were both part of the Niners roster in the 2020 season. However, post that, Aiyuk remained in San Francisco while Bourne was sent packing to New England. Now it seems, just a month after he signed with the Pats for three more years for a whopping $33M, he wants his former teammate to come over as well.

Rumors are swirling that Aiyuk isn’t happy with what the Niners are paying him and is already looking for a new home. And he might just accept Bourne’s invitation.

Bourne took to Instagram to share a story, captioned, “Come to NE @brandonaiyuk,” with a video that was initially posted by Arizona Sun Devil’s Instagram page in 2020. In the video, the former teammates could be seen practicing together and having a great time.

It seems Bourne is trying to stir up nostalgia in Aiyuk and entice him to come play with him again, rather than against him. Bourne might want Aiyuk in New England, but it’s unsure if the Pats want him. He had, by no means, an underwhelming 2023 season. He raked in 1,342  receiving yards for 75 receptions and even helped his team reach the Super Bowl. However, it doesn’t fit in with the strategy that the Pats are following.

Patriots hesitant to let in outsiders in New England

The New England Patriots seem to be charting a course that’s both familiar and cautious as they navigate the offseason. They’re showing a clear preference for nurturing and retaining talent from within. This approach, underscored by the re-signing of homegrown talents like Josh Uche, aligns with the ethos rookie head coach Jerod Mayo expressed during the league meetings in Orlando. “One of the No. 1 priorities we had was to sign our players back,” Mayo shared.

As they secured key offensive stalwarts like TE Hunter Henry and Tackle Michael Onwenu, the Patriots also struck a team-friendly deal with Uche, an edge rusher from the 2020 draft whose recent performance hinted at the untapped potential. It seems the Pats are taking a calculated gamble on a player poised for a breakout.

The Patriots’ strategy, reminiscent of the “Packer Way” known for its focus on cultivating and retaining core players. This inclination towards continuity and self-reliance places the Patriots second only to the Packers in terms of roster composition, with a significant number of players still donning the colors of the team that initially drafted or signed them.

While not every player might fit the bill of a ‘core’ member, the intention to maintain a cohesive and familiar roster is evident in Foxborough’s offseason maneuvers.

Read More: 49ers Trade Rumors: Brandon Aiyuk To Raiders? $12M WR Faces Deebo Samuel Challenge