The Pittsburgh Steelers are in need of a wide receiver after trading Diontae Johnson last month, and a name that has surfaced in trade rumors for them is San Francisco 49ers star Brandon Aiyuk.
According to the latest odds from BetOnline, the Steelers are the favorites to land Aiyuk in the event that the 49ers deal him.
San Francisco is in a tough spot with Aiyuk.
The 26-year-old is preparing to enter the final year of his deal, but due to financial constraints, the Niners may not be able to afford him long term. Aiyuk has also made it fairly clear that he will not be taking any hometown discounts, which puts considerable pressure on the 49ers.
San Francisco also has to worry about paying quarterback Brock Purdy, and it already has several other big-name players under contract on lucrative deals.
As a result, it’s looking more and more like Aiyuk may be spending his final days in the Bay Area.
Of course, the Niners don’t have to trade Aiyuk right now. There was a rumor that the wide out asked for a trade recently, but his agent refuted that claim.
Unless Aiyuk really forces the issue, the 49ers can opt to hold on to the star pass-catcher for one more season and try to win a Super Bowl. Then, they can revisit the situation next offseason.
Aiyuk is coming off of a fantastic 2023 campaign in which he hauled in 75 receptions for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns, establishing himself as San Francisco’s clear No. 1 receiver.
The Arizona State product was selected by the Niners with the 25th overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. He had his breakout year in 2022, when he caught 78 passes for 1,015 yards and eight scores.
Currently, the Steelers have next to no depth behind George Pickens in their receiving corps, so Brandon Aiyuk would certainly be a great fit in Pittsburgh.
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