The San Francisco 49ers are, without a doubt, one of the best teams in the NFL. They have a roster loaded with talented players, many of whom have been named to the Pro Bowl and/or NFL First Team All-Pro. The problem with having so many great players, as the 49ers and their fans are learning, is that is hard to pay or to make a plan to pay all of them.
Related: San Francisco 49ers Trade Brandon Aiyuk to the Green Bay Packers in Bonkers Trade Proposal
Running back Christian McCaffrey just signed a two-year $38 million extension that will keep him in the Bay Area for the foreseeable future. Last year, the 49ers gave pass rusher Nick Bosa a five-year $170 million contract, making him one of the highest paid defensive players in NFL history.
Related: San Francisco 49ers Fans Are Furious Over Recent Brandon Aiyuk Trade Proposal
While they have two of their stars locked up for the foreseeable future, they have a plethora of others that need to get paid, and soon. Quarterback Brock Purdy has gone from an afterthought to being one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. As he enters his third season in the league, he is due for a massive contract extension within the next year.
And of course, they need to figure out how to pay All-Pro wide receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel.
Brandon Aiyuk and the San Francisco 49ers Are Not Close to a Contract Extension
Earlier this offseason, the Minnesota Vikings gave their All-Pro wide receiver, Justin Jefferson, a four-year $140 million contract. With $35 million paid per year, Jefferson is now the highest-paid wide receiver in the game. Any contract that is signed by any wide receiver now will be compared to that.
Aiyuk, according to reports, is not seeking Jefferson-esque money. However, he does want to be paid like one of the best players at his position. Also earlier this season, the Detroit Lions gave Amon-Ra St. Brown a four-year deal worth $120 million, or $30 million per season.
This is the kind of money that Aiyuk is expecting on his own new deal. However, a recent report states that the 49ers have only offered him $26 million per season, an offer the All-Pro found insulting.
NFL Analyst Proposes the San Francisco 49ers Trade Brandon Aiyuk to the Pittsburgh Steelers
If Aiyuk will not sign whatever offer the 49ers make to him, they could always trade him. After all, many believed that he would be traded before the 2024 NFL Draft. Many of the teams that wanted him then probably still have interest now.
Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report suggests that Aiyuk could be sent to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a first round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft in a trade that would rock the NFL:
If you believe that Russell Wilson or Justin Fields can be a capable starting quarterback for Pittsburgh in 2024, then the Steelers have a roster capable of competing in the NFL’s toughest division.
But on offense at least, there is one major potential weakness—the wide receiver position. There’s a reason the Steelers have been kicking the tires on dealing for Aiyuk and/or Samuel for some time now.
Pittsburgh may have just extended head coach Mike Tomlin, who has yet to post a losing season with the team. But the franchise hasn’t won a postseason game since 2016.
It’s time to shake things up.
This would certainly shake things up in Pittsburgh for all the reasons Davenport mentioned. It would also shake things up in San Francisco as they would be without one of their two top wide receivers going forward. That being said, it would be one less big contract they need to pay and could make re-signing Samuel easier on the franchise.
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