The Pittsburgh Steelers' involvement in the Brandon Aiyuk saga should come to an end by the end of the preseason, at the very latest. Many believe something between General Manager Omar Khan and San Francisco 49ers' John Lynch could be imminent, but recent reports have suggested that a third team might have to come into the picture. The 49ers are looking for a wide receiver to replace Aiyuk's production in return, but the Steelers are not going to move on from the talented George Pickens. This has allegedly left a huge hole in negotiations and is the main reason why a deal has not been finalized.
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Steelers General Manager Omar Khan stares off into the distance as he stands on the field in Pittsburgh, PA.
If the Steelers have agreed with the 49ers on compensation and also come to an agreement with Aiyuk's team, Khan may just be waiting for San Francisco to find a trade partner elsewhere to act as a third party in the deal. There are certain questions surrounding wide receivers around the league, and it's possible that Pittsburgh is waiting for certain teams to engage Lynch.
1.) Las Vegas Raiders
There has been plenty of talk throughout the 2024 offseason regarding Davante Adams. The six-time Pro Bowler is in a unique position as he enters his 11th professional season. He still can compete at a high level, but is surrounded by quarterback controversy in Las Vegas. There have been no official reports of him requesting a trade, however, he would check off the box that the 49ers need to move on from Aiyuk.
San Francisco is in "win-now" mode, which means draft picks don't necessarily tell the whole story for one or multiple Super Bowls in upcoming seasons. Adams is under contract through 2026, but would likely have to restructure his deal given the large cap hits he has tied to him in the next few seasons. The Las Vegas Raiders are absolutely a team to keep an eye on, especially if General Manager Tom Telesco is open to moving on from Adams.
2.) Washington Commanders
Another wide receiver who has been linked to trade rumors from time to time is Terry McLaurin. The underrated pass-catcher could be traded for much-needed draft capital as the Washington Commanders rebuild under new ownership. McLaurin might not be as decorated as Adams, but is under contract through 2025 and at much less of a cost than the Raiders' star.
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Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (#17) runs out of the tunnel prior to playing a professional football game at home.
Aiyuk stated that he could see himself playing for the Steelers or Commanders in 2024, and while Washington hasn't been linked to him recently, this could bring the franchise into the mix in a much different way. It would be fascinating to see what a team like the Commanders could get in draft capital for a player like McLaurin. He would be a nightmare to defend in San Francisco's offense.
3.) Denver Broncos
There is a trend here with teams potentially open to moving on from Pro Bowl-caliber receivers. The Denver Broncos aren't in the best position to win in 2024, and future picks could be very valuable. Courtland Sutton had some drama surrounding his name and was once tied to the Steelers in terms of him being a trade target during the offseason.
Under contract through 2025, he is another player that easily would be a weapon for the 49ers for more than a season. It's easy to argue that the Broncos are in a rebuilding stage, and it might be wise to get a decent return for Sutton while it is still possible. There's no reason to disagree with the notion that he could complete a three-team trade that lands Aiyuk in Pittsburgh.
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Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton (#14) celebrates after finding the end zone during a professional football game in Denver, CO.
Steelers Can't Rely On 49ers-Cowboys Trade Involving CeeDee Lamb
There is some drama going on with CeeDee Lamb and the Dallas Cowboys. Pittsburgh might be able to use this as a bargaining chip, but overall, it doesn't make much sense for the 49ers to pursue him to solidify the trade. If Lynch wasn't open to paying Aiyuk $30 million per season (or more), it's not realistic to think that he would do it for Lamb, even though he is one of the best receivers in the NFL. This entire situation gets more interesting by the day and fans are begging for it to come to an end.
Do you think any of the three teams above can help finalize a trade between the Steelers and 49ers? Let us know in the comments below!
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