Before the 2024 season began, the Pittsburgh Steelers had a sizable void in their roster to fill following the Diontae Johnson deal.
Russell Wilson, the quarterback, was signed for a one-year contract, and they do not want to waste his $1.21 million pay. Being able to allocate more cap space to strengthening the team around Wilson is one of the major advantages of that little contract. The best alternative may be to make a trade because wide receivers are becoming less and less available as free agents. Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk of the San Francisco 49ers has been the subject of a lot of talk lately.
With a career-high 1,342 yards on 75 receptions and seven touchdowns, he had a fantastic 2023 season for a team that advanced all the way to the Super Bowl. Aiyuk commented on social media shortly after the Super Bowl, saying, “Remember what brought you there.” In the crucial game, he was only targeted six times. In the 49ers’ overtime loss to the Chiefs, he caught three catches for 49 yards.
“This is the exact reason why we are leaving San Francisco,” his brother posted on social media as well.
Recently, 49ers beat reporter Matt Barrows of The Athletic ran a mailbag, and the first item asked concerned a potential trade for Aiyuk. If that occurs, he surmised, it will most likely be before to the draft.
That makes logic to me. Just go back to Deebo Samuel’s trade agitation two years ago. Before and especially during the draft, the 49ers kept their phones open to see what kind of offers Samuel might present, according to Barrows. Samuel was coming off of an amazing 2021 campaign, so the 49ers needed to be completely convinced before they could let him leave. Given Aiyuk and Brock Purdy’s great chemistry, I believe a similar situation is in store for them: The 49ers are open to offers, but it will require a significant change.
A closer look at the 49ers’ predicament with Aiyuk was recently shared on the internet by Dave Bryan. He pointed to the recent trade of cornerback L’Jarius Sneed to the Tennessee Titans, in which they received a 2025 third-round pick and a 2024 seventh-round pick in exchange. Because he was franchise tagged and has a hefty, completely guaranteed cap charge in addition to only one year of team control, his value was significantly lower than many had predicted. Although it is not quite as costly because Aiyuk is on his fifth-year option, the situation is similar in that the team receiving the deal will need an extension right away.
Last year, the 49ers exercised his fifth-year option, which would cost them $14.12 million the following season. If a team intends to work on long-term contracts with its players, this would be the time to do it as most teams do so when their players have one year left on their current contract.
When Aiyuk went to X and tweeted directly at Mike Tomlin in response to some social media images that had been circulating that highlighted the startling resemblance in their appearances, the rumors of a Steelers-Aiyuk merger reached a new height.
Although it would undoubtedly be a significant swing, the Steelers may pull off this trade and make it work inside the salary cap. It might be too good to refuse if the exchange value is even remotely comparable to Sneed’s. That might be asking for too much, in Barrows’ opinion.
