Steelers' Possible Trade Target Brandon Aiyuk Will Go This Week For Cheap: "They Waited Too Long"

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been named a possible destination for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk all offseason. Rumor is that Aiyuk wants to get paid $30 million a year and that the 49ers want a first-round pick out of the deal. If that's true, the cost for Aiyuk might been too steep because no one has taken the bait. 

Comments that Aiyuk isn't worth $30 million have swirled, saying that's why he is still in San Francisco. Now, he has requested a formal trade, which raises the tension even further. Former Steelers linebackers Arthur Moats and Terence Garvin recently spoke about Aiyuk on The Arthur Moats Experience podcast. Moats said the only party worried about all of this is Aiyuk. He doesn't think San Francisco wants to pay him more than the rumored $26 they offered, and he doesn't think they will be pushed into it. Garvin feels that the 49ers might have waited too long, and now they will be the ones who lose out in any trade that is made. 

"I think they'll let him go for pennies," said Garvin. "Because they can't get it done, and you don't want to just sit on it. They've waited too long. It's like a fifth-rounder (as a trade offer), and maybe give him your third or fourth receiver. Something like that will work. They gotta give him away right now."

Garvin added that Aiyuk can't act like this again if a trade goes through. He feels it will hurt his reputation if teams and fans perceive this as his normal attitude. If he gets paid what he has been asking, he must show that he is grateful and worth it. 

Moats said he feels Aiyuk is "standing on principle" now. He doesn't feel he can drop his number because he's been so vocal that he's a top receiver. Therefore, he was offended by the suggestion to give a "hometown discount." Moats said it isn't hard to see his point of view; there is a long list of 49ers players who weren't forced to take a discount. 

"You ain't ask Deebo [Samuel] to take a discount. You ain't ask Trent Williams to take a discount, you ain't ask Fred Warner to take a discount, you ain't ask Charvarius Ward to take a discount. I don't even know if he was there when Richard Sherman was there, but you ain't ask Sherman to take a discount. Now you want me to take the discount? Come on, [Nick] Bosa ain't take no discount. Kyle Juszczyk ain't take no discount. George Kittle ain't take a discount. I know you're not about to ask Brock Purdy to take a discount. If all the other dudes got paid and broke off nicely, Aiyuk's probably saying, 'I want to get paid and broke off nicely' the same way."

While they agree that the 49ers act like they won't be bullied into an extension with Aiyuk, something has to give. They think San Francisco will take about anything to get a disgruntled player off their hands. Will a team pay $30 million if the 49ers don't see that as his value? 

That leaves San Francisco and Aiyuk at an impasse. Moats and Garvin feel the Steelers will pass on Aiyuk. They think another team is willing to take a chance and that Aiyuk will be traded before the 49ers report to training camp on July 23rd. 

Steelers' Need Someone To Step Up

If the Steelers are out of the talks for Aiyuk and are going with the receiving corps they have now, they need someone to step up as the second receiver. George Pickens is the WR1, and there is a large talent gap between him and the rest of the group. 

Some unknowns are on the roster, including the newly drafted Roman Wilson. They also have Calvin Austin III, who is entering his third season with the team. He spent his whole rookie season injured and was somewhat inconsistent in 2023. He looked solid in minicamp; some feel he is ready to take on that role. 

Do you agree that the 49ers will let Aiyuk go cheaper now? Click to comment below. 

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