As they gear up for the 2024 season, the Pittsburgh Steelers have added to their ranks on the defensive side of things. With everything to play for in the upcoming season, solidifying the signal-caller has been one move the Steelers have gotten right. Even so, the Steelers could well pull off a trade they have been eyeing for a while now with Brandon Aiyuk in the market for a new team.
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Former Pittsburgh 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.
Brandon Aiyuk Has Requested A Trade
Aiyuk recently asked for a trade from the San Francisco 49ers owing to a stall in contract talks. His impressive stats for the 2023 season, in which he hit 1,342 yards and 7 touchdowns, make him one of the most sought-after in his position.
Talking about his future on a podcast interview, the 26-year-old WR made his intention to join the Black and Gold all too obvious as he discussed his contract situation. Aiyuk also name-dropped the Washington Commanders, even though the Steelers represent his ideal move.
Former Steelers All-Pro Star Rooting for the Trade
Le'Veon Bell, the former Pittsburgh Steelers running back, is among those to have chimed in on the conversation upon learning about Aiyuk's request for a trade. The All-pro star, who has been teasing a comeback of his own with the team, took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce his excitement over the prospect.
Omar gon gon get it done, watch 🖤💛 https://t.co/iQIbAKlmP5
— Le'Veon Bell (@LeVeonBell) July 16, 2024
What It Means for the Steelers at the Sportsbooks
The Steelers have been flying high, and Diontae Johnson was a big part of their success. You would get fairly good odds with the Steelers as the favorites, mostly because of players who can turn a game on its head single-handedly.
Getting Aiyuk into the squad will put them right on course, albeit with them being more of a favorite. As such, you are likely to get lower odds for futures like winning the AFC North. So, while it could be a magnificent piece of business to pull the trade-off, fans wagering on the team are sure to notice the odds change.
If the WR can keep posting the incredible numbers he has been posting, then the match-to-match odds might go even lower. You might have to place a bet just to get behind the team.
Football Fans Getting More Into Sports Wagers
Watching the game is fun, but it gets even better if you can call games and have them go your way. Placing bets on the weekend's games has become more popular, with well-known brands opening their doors to players online.
This accessibility is also happening with virtual casinos. On the casino side, the surge in popularity is mostly because sites like the one in this Casino Days Ontario review are adding more quality features. As for sports, rivalries and off-season moves influence analysis. The Steelers should be one of the teams fans bet on if they make this move.
They could be an easy pick for savvy bettors who are able to decipher what a trade like this means for each match-up they face.
Other Players that the Deal Could Affect
Adding Aiyuk to the lineup will make the Steelers a much more lethal team offensively. However, the move is likely to affect the futures of two key team members, Cameron Heyward and George Pickens.
For Heyward, the amount of money spent in getting Aiyuk's signature may make his contract negotiations problematic. He may have to move on in 2025. Even though losing him would be a domino effect of the trade, it still would not place it among the worst NFL trades. On Pickens' part, there is bound to be competition between him and his fellow WR. Aiyuk's arrival to the squad may be just the impetus he needs to hit top gear.
Aiyuk's request for a trade is all the signal the Steelers need to acquire one of the league's most important offensive players. With both parties alluding to their compatibility, we will have to wait and see how things turn out.
