If the Patriots feel they're all set with their other receiving options for Drake Maye, Bourne becomes expendable. And given his comfort with Shanahan's system, he might be the perfect low-cost acquisition to start to send the 49ers back in a positive offseason direction.

The San Francisco 49ers have this one more year of Brock Purdy guaranteed under his rookie contract, after which he'd be subject to free agency. Purdy's desire for an extension has been no secret, with some reports indicating Purdy's price tag might exceed $60 million.

You can see why Brock Purdy and his agent might decide that anything less than $50 million per season is unacceptable. And if that's what they decide,