The New England Patriots are tied for the best record in football this season, thanks much in part to the MVP-caliber effort of quarterback Drake Maye.

Heading into the year, the Patriots' wide receiver room was a major question mark, but the pass-catchers have answered the bell with strong campaigns. Stefon Diggs has been terrific, Mack Hollins is on pace for the best year of his career and Kayshon Boutte has been an explosive threat averaging 18.7 yards per grab.

But with Kyle Williams struggling during his rookie campaign and DeMario Douglas being nothing more than a decent ancillary option, New England could use another playmaker in its receiving corps, which is where Brandon Aiyuk comes into the equation.

The San Francisco 49ers are preparing to release Aiyuk after the 2025 campaign concludes, one year after he signed a four-year, $120 million extension with the club.

Aiyuk, who has not played since October 2024 due to a torn ACL, has not been showing up to team meetings and has been declining to participate in other team activities, so it seems like both sides have had enough of one another.

The question is, would the Pats revisit the idea of acquiring Aiyuk?

Remember: before Aiyuk signed his new deal with the 49ers in 2024, the Patriots expressed interest in trading for the former first-round pick, but he essentially told New England to kick rocks. At the time, Maye had not played a single game yet, and the Pats were one of the worst teams in football. His disinterest was entirely understandable.

Now, though, the Patriots are 9-2 and clearly have a bright future with Maye under center. Mike Vrabel is also a terrific head coach, so perhaps Aiyuk's thoughts on Foxborough have changed?

When healthy, Aiyuk is an outstanding receiver. He hauled in 75 receptions for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023 and posted back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns between 2022 and that season. Is he Justin Jefferson or Ja'Marr Chase? No, but he is a legitimate No. 1 talent.

But even if Aiyuk would be open to joining New England, would the Pats still be intrigued by the idea?

The Patriots' receiving corps isn't great, but it is in much better shape than many anticipated. They also have Diggs under contract through 2027, so it's not like they have a glaring need at the position. Of course, a legitimate argument can be made that Diggs is no longer a true No. 1, but we still don't know how Aiyuk will look upon his return from knee surgery.

New England almost certainly wouldn't have to hand Aiyuk a fat sum of guaranteed money if and when he does hit the open market. The Pats could lace the contract with incentives. But would they even want to bother for a guy who basically just quit on a good football team that gave him $30 million annually a year ago?

The Patriots will almost certainly check in on Aiyuk if he does become available, but the need for him is no longer as dire as it once was.