Tired of all the annoying Ads?
Subscribe to Steeler Nation now and have an ad-free experience, as well as a connection to tens of thousands of other Steeler fans in the exclusive comment sections!
The Pittsburgh Steelers may be planning to have Van Jefferson work as the number two receiver opposite of George Pickens in 2024. If the roster stays as it looks like today, that is going to be the most likely scenario. As training camps around the league are getting ramped up, fans in the Steel City are still holding onto the idea that Brandon Aiyuk will be wearing the black and gold when the regular season kicks off in September. Back in 2023, the San Francisco 49ers visited Acrisure Stadium in Week 1 and the dynamic wide receiver scored two touchdowns, also hauling in over 100 receiving yards.
Joe Sargent / Getty Images
Former Steelers cornerback Patrick Peterson allows a touchdown to Brandon Aiyuk of the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1 of 2023 during a contest at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA.
If Pittsburgh is going to get aggressive and put together an attractive offer to the 49ers so the franchise is enticed to deal Aiyuk, it might have to include more than just draft picks. The Steelers will need to give Aiyuk a massive contract extension; that is certain, but what if San Francisco is interested in replacing Aiyuk's spot on the 53-man roster with an external option?
On Wednesday, Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio went on The PM Team w/Poni & Mueller on 93.7 The Fan and said that the 49ers would need to get a player in return for Aiyuk. It wouldn't be an insignificant name, either. There are some Steelers players that could make sense in no particular order
Alex Highsmith - Edge Rusher
This is going to fire fans in the Steel City up, and it should. No one would want to see Alex Highsmith go anywhere, but the reality of the fact is that a duo of Nick Bosa and Highsmith could be just as lethal as TJ Watt and Highsmith. Leonard Floyd plays opposite of Bosa now, but will soon be 32 years of age. The 26-year-old could be a better option for now and the future.
While the Steelers have the cap space in 2025 and beyond to make an Aiyuk deal work, Highsmith is currently on the books through 2027 and one of the most expensive players over the course of the next few years. With Nick Herbig waiting in the wings, could Pittsburgh be desperate enough for a receiver that the franchise uncharacteristically makes a decision to deal Highsmith?
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter / X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers edge rusher Alex Highsmith (#56) gets after the quarterback during a 2023 regular season home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA.
Dan Moore Jr. - Offensive Tackle
The 49ers currently have a future Hall of Famer playing at left tackle in Trent Williams. He is 35 years old, however, and no organization is ever sure when the injury bug might hit. Dan Moore Jr. is likely to lose his starting spot in Pittsburgh at some point and if the franchise is confident he can't play a true swing tackle role, sending him on his way might be the best decision for all parties involved.
This would follow a trend that Omar Khan has seemed to start. The Steelers' general manager dealt both Kendrick Green and Kevin Dotson in 2023, and now that there might not be any use for someone like Moore given the revamped offensive line, the future for Moore could be murky as training camp nears. It all depends how much the 49ers might value a true back up left tackle with plenty of starting experience.
Darnell Washington - Tight End
San Francisco has arguably the best running back in the NFL in Christian McCaffrey. Pittsburgh happens to have a large human that is very capable of blocking for an elusive back like McCaffrey. Darnell Washington hasn't gotten too much of an opportunity as a pass-catcher at the professional level, but he can absolutely block on the outside.
Some have wondered if he could transition to the tackle position, but overall, he wouldn't be going to the 49ers to take George Kittle's spot. Washington could absolutely work as the third tight end on the Niners' roster behind Kittle and Logan Thomas, and could be turned into a phenomenal blocker. He could maybe even be a dynamic red zone threat.
%202023%20Camp%20Final%20with%20Logos/2L9A5042-544x306.jpg "Steelers Darnell Washington")
Jordan Schofield / Steeler Nation (Twitter / X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers tight end Darnell Washington (#80) warms up and prepares to throw a football during a 2023 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Steelers Have To Weigh The Pros And Cons Of Adding Aiyuk
Aiyuk has come off as dramatic during his contract fiasco. Pittsburgh is no stranger to that. When discussing the potential of a locker room distraction being acquired, it simply might not be worth it. It also might not make sense at all to deal someone like Highsmith. On the flip side, the Steelers might find it very hard to succeed offensively without a second proven option at wide receiver.
Would it be crazy for Khan to give up Highsmith in a deal that lands Aiyuk? Let us know in the comments below!
#SteelerNation
