The Pittsburgh Steelers have been involved in trade rumors for nearly every wide receiver this offseason. One of the most intense rumors involved San Francisco 49ers wide receiver, Brandon Aiyuk. Aiyuk has made it very clear he isn't happy with his current team and wants a new deal. Although the 49ers don't want to lose Aiyuk and have made that known, they have been becoming more open to trading him in recent weeks. On Monday, the national media and Steeler Nation went wild trying to navigate the rumor mill surrounding the 49ers and a possible trade of Aiyuk.
Darren Yamashita / USA TODAY Sports
Brandon Aiyuk looks on before a game with the 49ers.
Social media blew up with Steelers fans feeling confident that Aiyuk was about to be traded to Pittsburgh. Some members of the Steelers media even suggested that Pittsburgh felt a trade for Aiyuk was imminent. However, on Monday night, Matt Maiocco out of San Francisco reported that the Steelers are effectively no longer an option because they were not willing to meeting the 49ers' demands. Another twist came when Maiocco shared on social media that the 49ers had framework deals finished with the Cleveland Browns and the New England Patriots.
While it appears the Steelers and Omar Khan may be out of the running for Aiyuk, there's a real possibility that the 49ers leaked this information to pressure Khan into meeting their demands.
What did Schefter say today? “Ultimately the final say kinda comes down to Aiyuk.” If he doesn’t wanna play for the Browns or Patriots, he can simply say no. If his preference is Pittsburgh, 49ers might be handcuffed and this is a last ditch effort to get more. https://t.co/W5PAE0tfEX
— Kevin Adams (@KevinAdams26) August 6, 2024
The 49ers technically don't have to trade Aiyuk since he's under contract for the 2024 season, but he could refuse to play without a new deal.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
General Manager Omar Khan speaks to the press at the Steelers' UPMC Sports Complex in Pittsburgh, PA.
Currently, Aiyuk is holding in with the 49ers. He has leverage and ultimately, the final say. It makes sense that the 49ers are making one last push to get as much as possible from Khan and Pittsburgh.
I’m told the trade terms that the #49ers have on the table from the #Patriots for WR Brandon Aiyuk remain unchanged, per source. It’s the same terms New England has been offering for a while.
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) August 6, 2024
The #Patriots have been pursuing Aiyuk for months. pic.twitter.com/A2b0COcfSd
The Patriots' deal remained unchanged, making it less likely that the 49ers would suddenly be interested in their offer. The Browns' offer was allegedly acceptable to the 49ers, but Aiyuk stated he didn't want to play in Cleveland. This leaves the 49ers in a tough spot.
Steelers Fans Are Ready For The Brandon Aiyuk Saga To Come To A Conclusion
As the Aiyuk saga continues, there's still a real possibility he gets traded to Pittsburgh. Such a move would be massive for the Steelers, significantly enhancing their Super Bowl odds.
Getty Images
49ers' Brandon Aiyuk tries to shake Steelers' Damontae Kazee during a game in Pittsburgh.
Steelers fans are eager for this saga to end and to find out where Aiyuk will be playing in 2024. If it's in Pittsburgh, a wide receiver duo of George Pickens and Aiyuk would be elite.
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