The Pittsburgh Steelers drama-filled summer has come to a close after fans saw star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk ink a new deal that will keep him with the San Francisco 49ers for the foreseeable future. Pittsburgh had reportedly been in trade talks with the 49ers multiple times throughout the offseason, including right around the time of the 2024 NFL Draft and then again as training camp began to pick up.
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Brandon Aiyuk looks on before a game with the 49ers.
Pittsburgh had reportedly had a deal in place on a new contract with Aiyuk, and the 49ers on a trade. San Francisco is competing for a Super Bowl, and they didn't want to lose arguably their best receiver. NFL insider, Dianni Russini, reported after Aiyuk's new deal was signed that the 49ers wanted to work out a three-team trade that would have sent Aiyuk to Pittsburgh.
The 49ers only were willing to trade Brandon Aiyuk if they could get a top-flight WR to replace him. They offered a third-round pick to Denver for Courtland Sutton, and then would’ve dealt Aiyuk to the Steelers, but the Broncos declined the offer.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) August 29, 2024
So, he stays in SF.
The Denver Broncos could have sent Courtland Sutton to San Francisco for a third-round pick, and then the Steelers would have sent draft capital to the 49ers to acquire Aiyuk. If Denver would have been comfortable with the deal, Aiyuk would have been a Steeler for some time now. Ultimately, Denver is the reason General Manager Omar Khan couldn't pull off a blockbuster trade.
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Receiver Courtland Sutton lines up before a play during a game with the Denver Broncos.
Sutton had played with Russell Wilson over the last two seasons in Denver. In an odd, full-circle moment, he was almost the reason his former quarterback would have been able to throw to one of the better receivers in the league in Aiyuk. Of course Denver vetoed the deal, which will now force Khan to look for wide receiver help elsewhere.
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Quarterback Russell Wilson during a game with the Denver Broncos.
Steelers Will Need To Find More Help At Receiver
Unfortunately, it seems as though Khan put all of his eggs in one basket with a potential Aiyuk trade. Now the options for help at receiver are slim, as the free agent market has been picked through. The two most noticeable names that are still available are Hunter Renfrow and Michael Thomas, but neither would be promising additions.
It will be a big year for George Pickens and the rest of Pittsburgh's wide receivers. Van Jefferson seems to the second option at wide receiver, with a rookie like Roman Wilson potentially breaking out. Pittsburgh's offense still has a lot of potential, but not being able to acquire Aiyuk puts them in a bad spot.
What do you think of the near three team trade that could have happened? Let us know in the comments below!
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