There’s still a chance that Brandon Aiyuk and the San Francisco 49ers agree to a new deal, but according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the All-Pro wide receiver is closer to being traded than signing an extension.

The news comes after the New England Patriots were mentioned as one of the top-two teams engaged in trade talks with the 49ers.

Granted, multiple teams are sure to be interested in Aiyuk’s services, but the Patriots might be in the best position to swing a deal. They have the need, draft picks and third-most salary cap space in the NFL.

“What seems to be clear is that if and when [Aiyuk] is traded, and I would say we’re closer to a trade than we are to him staying in San Francisco at this point, he is going to make more than the 49ers offer him. How much more? That might depend on the team that he winds up with,” Garafolo said on NFL Network’s “The Insiders.”

The Patriots would likely prefer to keep their first-round draft pick, which could potentially be a top-10 pick in 2025.

So a second-round pick with an add-on should be enough to get the conversation started. The biggest hurdle up to this point has been San Francisco refusing to trade their star receiver.

When that’s no longer a roadblock, the Patriots will finally have the opening they need to make one of the biggest moves of the year.

This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: NFL insider says Brandon Aiyuk closer to trade than staying with 49ers