The Pittsburgh Steelers could be in a good spot to land Brandon Aiyuk after the San Francisco 49ers wide receiver escalated tension with his front office this week. Aiyuk has been linked to the Steelers this offseason when he sent head coach Mike Tomlin a message on social media.
The Pittsburgh Steelers need another WR
The Steelers need help at wide receiver after trading Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers. They have one good receiver in Geroge Pickens, but the team needs to make the most of its opportunity with an offense led by Russell Wilson on a veteran minimum contract.
Aiyuk is a true No. 1 receiver, and he wants to be paid his value in an offseason when contracts at his position are set to explode. The 49ers want to keep Aiyuk long-term, but their front office doesn’t view him as an elite receiver worth nearly $30 million annually. Even if they wanted to pay him, they have serious cap concerns coming up with quarterback Brock Purdy due an enormous extension in the next offseason.
Aiyuk is set to make $14.1 million this season, but he intends to fight for money before he takes the field next season. As Deebo Samuel did in 2022, Aiyuk unfollowed the team on his Instagram this week as a negotiation tactic.
Brandon Aiyuk wants the San Francisco 49ers to pay him
As previously discussed on GH, Aiyuk said he wants to get paid what he “deserves” by the 49ers. He views himself as a leader on the team who professionally goes about his business. He hinted he would look elsewhere if the 49ers didn’t want to pay him:
Aiyuk hinted he would seek to play elsewhere if the 49ers didn’t give him what he deserves:
“From the first day I walked in there to when I was in there earlier this morning. If they don’t see the worth in that, that’s all it is. It ain’t nothing else besides that. I can’t get into it. We got professionals working on both sides, so hopefully we can come to a professional agreement to continue playing professional football.”
The Steelers could be that team for Aiyuk, but it will cost them heavily in the draft to add him.
Proposed trade
Steelers receive:
- Brandon Aiyuk
49ers receive:
- 2024 No. 20 pick
- 2024 No. 178
The Steelers would have to give up OL help for Aiyuk
The Steelers are expected to add on the offensive side of the ball with their No. 20 pick. However, reports have surfaced the team intends to take an offensive lineman with the pick. The Steelers desperately need to improve their offensive line.
If they trade for Aiyuk, they would have to look later in the draft for offensive line help. But Aiyuk has shown consistent results, and the front office won’t have to worry about potentially drafting a bust.
The 49ers would receive a first-round pick in a draft class loaded with wide receivers. They could take a speed demon like Xavier Worthy around the No. 20 spot or a talented defensive tackle like Byron Murphy II to replace Arik Armstead, who left for the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency. With Purdy’s contract extension coming up, the 49ers’ best bet to add talent is via the draft, where they can pay elite help on rookie contracts.
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3 Comments
Wow, this is so out of control with these players! I would give anything to make 14 million dollars! They act like it’s pocket change to them. Come back to the real world guys! This is insane.
HE CALLED lilboy tomlin, CAUSE HE KNOWS MIKE RUNS A BOYZ CLUB/ WAYWARD HOUSE. NO FOOTBALL HERE! AIYUK WILL FIT RIGHT IN WITH THA LOSERZ
As much as I would love to see aiyuk in black and gold I can’t see the price we would have to pay. Like missing out on a center and ol help hopefully something happens but I really don’t see it