As the San Francisco 49ers and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk near a deal, the Pittsburgh Steelers might need to consider making a bigger trade move.
The Steelers could take a cue from their longtime rivals, the Cleveland Browns, who previously offered wide receiver Amari Cooper, along with second and fifth-round draft picks, as reported by Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area, in an effort to acquire Aiyuk.
Pittsburgh might propose sending 1,000-yard receiver George Pickens, along with future third and sixth-round picks, to the 49ers in exchange for Aiyuk. Given that Pickens, at 23 years old, is much younger than the 30-year-old Cooper, the Steelers could negotiate to give up lower draft picks in exchange for such a promising young player.
For the 49ers, Pickens could step in to replace Aiyuk immediately, while also adding more assets for future use. Pickens, a former second-round pick out of Georgia, caught 63 passes for 1,140 yards and five touchdowns last season, despite not having a quarterback of Brock Purdy’s caliber throwing to him.
Additionally, San Francisco would have the benefit of two more years with Pickens on his rookie contract before needing to negotiate a bigger deal. Meanwhile, Aiyuk could secure the larger contract he’s seeking with Pittsburgh.
However, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported on August 13 that the 49ers and Aiyuk are close to reaching an agreement. This news coincided with Ian Rapoport’s report that the 49ers and Steelers had been working on a potential trade.
“What I’ve heard is that Brandon Aiyuk would prefer to stay with the 49ers and has always wanted to, all things being equal,” Garafolo said. “While the sides haven’t been on the same page, both have recently exchanged proposals, and the 49ers’ offer has improved compared to earlier negotiations.”
Brandon Aiyuk the Latest of Wideouts Seeking Big Contracts
Aiyuk has a $14.12 million option for his fifth year, but that falls short of his true market value. According to Spotrac, the former Arizona State standout could command $27.5 million, placing him among the top 10 highest-paid receivers in the NFL.
This year saw several wide receivers secure massive contracts, including Minnesota Vikings star Justin Jefferson, who signed a four-year, $140 million deal. Detroit Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown earned a four-year, $120 million contract, while Miami Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill received a three-year, $90 million extension.
“If they don’t recognize that value, that’s all there is to it. There’s nothing more to say. I can’t delve into it further. We have professionals on both sides, so hopefully, we can reach a professional agreement to keep playing professional football,” Aiyuk remarked during “The Night Cap” podcast in March.
Brandon Aiyuk Could Be Ready Quickly After Offseason-Long Campaign
Brandon Aiyuk has been outspoken throughout the offseason, using social media and interviews to express himself. In July, he requested a trade and, despite being an All-Pro, held out of training camp.
Although Aiyuk hasn’t participated, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is confident he’ll be ready if he remains with the defending NFC champions.
“I trust Brandon understands what he needs to do to prepare for this season,” Shanahan told reporters on August 12. “I believe he’s finding ways to stay in shape. However, there’s a football-specific conditioning that I know he’s eager to return to, and so are we. Hopefully, that happens soon. But I’m confident Brandon is doing what he needs to be ready for the season.”
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