A future in which the Steelers employ George Pickens and Brandon Aiyuk for Russell Wilson and/or Justin Fields — and then potentially a near-future heir apparent — to target remains in play, but as of Saturday morning, it is not the expected scenario.
The Steelers remain on standby here as a fallback option, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, who notes this situation has shifted from being a coin flip between Pittsburgh and San Francisco back to a place in which the 49ers have a slight edge to end up extending the wide receiver. Since a Tuesday report confirmed the teams have trade parameters in place, this storyline has trended in this direction.
Indeed, Fowler adds execs around the league expect this drawn-out process to conclude with the 49ers extending Aiyuk. Since the trade framework came out — though, it is not known what the Steelers are prepared to trade — 49ers efforts to wrap this extension saga have headlined the latest chapters in an endless news cycle. Aiyuk has been at 49ers meetings and been seen talking to teammates at practice during his hold-in. John Lynch said Friday the aim remains for the 49ers to extend the second-team All-Pro.
The 49ers let Aiyuk’s camp talk terms with other teams, which led to Patriots and Browns proposals. Both AFC teams and the Commanders, who were also interested at one point (as they now roster former Aiyuk college QB Jayden Daniels), are not believed to be in the picture any longer. A 49ers-or-Steelers option has loomed regarding Aiyuk’s long-term future for a bit now, but San Francisco still needs to check some key boxes to finalize a long-sought-after deal.
Aiyuk has not yet been compelled to sign, as Fowler points out certain contractual demands remain unfulfilled. Guarantees and/or when those guarantees vest may well be part of this delay; Aiyuk targeted A.J. Brown‘s $84MM guarantee number weeks ago, and the Bears giving D.J. Moore $82.6MM in total guarantees gives the Bay Area resident more ammo here.
That said, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo adds the 49ers and Aiyuk have agreed on the contract’s central parts, indicating there is an issue with the final year of the team’s proposal. It is unknown how long of a deal the 49ers proposed, but the subject of phony final years — which are present in Davante Adams‘ Raiders deal and were in Tyreek Hill‘s first Dolphins contract — may be part of these negotiations. The 49ers used a lofty final-year salary to prop up Trent Williams‘ AAV — on a six-year contract — back in 2021. But Aiyuk and the team having agreed on the deal’s key points suggests a resolution is in sight. The 49ers made their most recent offer around a week ago, per Garafolo.
The fifth-year receiver has been connected to wanting an AAV in the $30MM range, while the 49ers were tied to a $26-$27MM-per-year offer earlier this summer. The 49ers have upped their offer, and Fowler does float the $30MM number — or a figure slightly less — as the likely endgame here. The Steelers were believed to have offered Aiyuk around $28MM per year.
Continued 49ers interest in avoiding a trade puts the Steelers in strange territory. As their Aiyuk trade effort suddenly looks shaky, the Steelers may need to come up with a backup plan to complement Pickens. As it stands, Van Jefferson — he of one 400-plus-yard season in four tries — is ticketed as the team’s top in-house WR2 option, The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo notes (subscription required). It has trended this way since Pittsburgh’s offseason program. Third-rounder Roman Wilson looms, but he has missed time during camp due to injury.
It will be interesting to see if the Steelers become connected to another receiver as a safety option — in the now-likelier event the 49ers finally extend Aiyuk.
Doesn’t this doofus have a signed contract with the 49ers? How can they have a slight edge on having him if they have a signed contract with him? Let him sit out and not get paid, teach him a lesson. You sign a contract you honor it, case closed. He wants a trade, how about Carolina, they’re not going anywhere anytime soon. My main concern is there is a contract in place. If we do not enforce said contract why even have one. Players could change teams every week, middle of the season, middle of the game even. It’s outlandish yes, but with no contract enforcement it could happen.
Or teams could cut a player and not have to pay them just because. To have a contract that you don’t have to abide by seems like a really outlandish situation.
A good contract protects everyone involved. It is “outlandish” to have a situation where it’s more beneficial for one person to break the contract than it is to abide by it. Which is why it’s crazy to get married and have children. Because then it’s more beneficial for the wife to get divorced, get child support, and find someone else. Then she has money from two men.
Why yes he did sign a contract, a forced rookie contract that doesnt really give him many options or adjustments. One thing it does happen to provide though is eligibility to seek extension with the team after a certain amount of years. It also allows him to hold out but at a cost of paycheck dollars.
I am with you usually on contracts, but i hate rookie contracts as you are forced to play for a team you did not choose and can be moved without your agreement, under terms you really have no say on and you are stuck there for 4 and potentially forced into a 5th. The only option if you dont sign said contract is really to moveout of the country if you decide to play in your profession. A holdout is really their only option and they have to be willing to lose their entire paycheck to do it if they sit out the whole time.
But he was not FORCED to sign anything. It’s not like the military where when you’re drafted there’s an obligation. He had a choice, take your degree from college and get a job, or take your chances in the NFL. Here’s the thing, if you’re good or great you get paid, if you suck so bad you look like that Australian Olympic breakdancer, you get paid. Just because you’re good doesn’t mean you get more money, unless the team agrees and pays you. They took a chance on him and it paid off. He’s also the 19th rated wide receiver, not Jefferson or Chase. I just believe that if you agree on a contract, and you put your name on it then you are morally obligated to fufill the terms if you’re able.
How does any of what you suggest benefit the 49ers?
1) They can’t let a top 15 WR just dwindle away, not playing, because they want to prove a point. Super Bowl is the goal. They need their best players.
2) They can’t simply trade him to Carolina. Why would Carolina want him without an extension in place? They wouldn’t give up anything of value, which would hurt the 49ers.
3) A contract is a contract and the 49ers can choose to enforce that contract; however, it benefits them to use that contract to make their team better, whether that’s extending him or trading him. So the contract does give them an advantage and it’s useful. But they can’t force him to play. Contracts are only binding to a certain extent. The Niners have to do what’s best for the franchise.
I love the “honor your contract” argument in a league that honor no contracts! Get a grip! This isn’t new. Teams cut players when they feel they are underperforming their deal, and players ask for more money when they feel they are outperforming their current deal. I would agree with you if all contracts were guaranteed, but not when this is the structure the NFL has in place on purpose. MLB does not have this problem. Also, “holding out” is allowed in contracts. Paying the fine for holding out is “honoring” the contract. It’s literally in the contract language what the fines are for holding out. Holding out and not paying the fines would be not honoring the contract. Holding out and paying the fines is following the contract to a T.
If the player is cut and has a guarantee in said contract then he still gets paid. If not he is an “employee at will” and can be terminated for any reason. Sadly , 90% of the players in the NFL are in the average to below average players and are going to be the majority of the ” Employees at will”. If contracts are ignored a home builder could increase the cost of your house by 50% and there would be nothing you could do, same with your new car, or if someone hired you work for them they could decide to pay you less, or pay you nothing at all. It really doesn’t matter what is routinely ignored or changed or how it’s done normally because if there is a contract that spells out what is expected or allowed and one side decides to litigate, then the original terms of the contract will be enforced.
“Holding out” is allowed in contracts. Paying the fine for holding out is “honoring” the contract. It’s literally in the contract language what the fines are for holding out. Holding out and not paying the fines would be not honoring the contract. Holding out and paying the fines is following the contract to a T.
Worked out well for Leveon Bell! Just ask him
Le’Veon Bell made almost $45 million over the course of his career. Is that not worked out? I am a Seahawks fan and don’t give a flying Wallenda how this resolves. It is just tiring that so many comments like this about “honor” in NFL “contracts”. They don’t mean anything for either side, so stop pretending to be aghast.
Oh Bell isn’t hurting for money if he was smart about it. He’d have made more if not for holding out and skipping a season. That was the beginning of the end.
My point being he missed out on 14+ million the 2018 season and skipping a year most likely impacted (negatively) his future career earnings. So, no, holding out for all of 2018 did not work out for him.
Belichick would’ve traded his ass to Carolina long ago.
“You sign a contract you honor it, case closed.”
Really? Is that how they did it in the 1960s? Because in the future, NFL teams can cut you any time they want. Players also renegotiate deals because the only thing that really matters in an NFL contract is guaranteed money.
But yeah. In a world that does not take 50 + years of NFL contracts, you are correct, you sign a deal and you honor it.
Thanks boomer
How many times did you fall off the couch and hit your head on the floor when you were a child? Please go to court and explain how you signed a contract with someone and contracts really aren’t legally binding, so you don’t have to follow the terms. When you eventually move out of your parents home and start living on your own you will sign a contract for a place to live (rent, lease, or buy), a vehicle (buy or lease) , utilities, wifi and or streaming service. These are all legally binding and have your name on them. I’m sure after you explain how you can’t be held liable because a contract means nothing they will let you just go on your merry way with no consequences. You are hilarious.
Thanks bummer
Steelers just need to walk away. It’s obvious BA is just playing.
He’s not leaving SF, just using NE, Pitt, as leverage. These veteran guys are in no hurry to sign at this point and grind through camp. He’ll sign within the next week.
Well, he is using them incorrectly.
I’m going to laugh hard if the 49ers keep dragging this trade along only for the Steelers to back out and Aiyuk to refuse to sign with them.
I wouldn’t make sense for Aiyuik to do that. He would be in the same position next year playing on the the 5th year option.
He’s on his 5th year option this year.
I’m laughing even harder that someone could be ridiculous enough to think that’s a possible end game.
No one thought that Leveon Bell would actually do it, either.
That worked out so well for him too. Which part do you think he regrets less forfeting an entire seasons salary or the overall salary he cost himself in future earnings by going that route?
Yes. 😉
Aiyuk is signed for this season. Been written Aiyuk wants to stay a niner. And Steeler offer has not been publicized. Why? Because it’s not happening. Read between the WIDELY spaced lines 57. Aiyuk has ZERO leverage. Watch a comedy if you’re looking to laugh.
That is not what he will do. He will play, but not try hard and then he will sit on the bench and cost himself more money in FA.
Well they have a big edge because he is currently on the 49ers
They hold all the cards
As to why the Steelers want A Yucky is beyond me….their quarterbacks leave a lot to be desired…maybe get Terry Bradshaw out of retirement
I’ll give you one thing; you sure enjoy pounding the same drum over and over. Guess it’s a good thing they’ll soon be playing games
Fields will surprise…
Why not trade Deebo Samuel and his contract and then extend Aiyuk? Deebo is a freak athlete I get it, but seems most logical path to me
Because they are trying to win the Super Bowl this year and they need Deebo to do that. If they attempted to trade him now there would be zero chance they get anyone back that gives them as good of a chance to win this year as Deebo. Not to mention they would take a much bigger dead cap hit next year if they traded him now than if/when they do it next offseason.
Trading deebo makes sense, next year. The dead money hit is way too high this year, plus he’s a huge part of the offense.
This story has become worn out.
Just make a freaking decision already.
Great update. More click bait. Moving on
It might be click bait, but it’s not the writer’s fault. Aiyuk, or perhaps the 9ers if you take the opposite, is dragging these negotiations out. The writers just tell us what’s been said most recently. It’s not on them.
I don’t know why the Steelers are so worried about a guy who’s on another team. I’d be more worried that my coach just said that his offense looks like the ” Junior Varsity” than that. At this point he would just be a shiny bauble on a bad offense.
As a Steelers fan, I’m embarrassed that the team has decided to allow itself to be a part of this farce
Yep if I’m Khan, I make an offer and set a deadline for an answer. Not this “hey get back to me when you can if he doesn’t like yalls contract offer”.
Yawn. Enough is enough with these annoying updates with ayuke. He’s playing both teams. Steelers best forget him
Wilson and Fields have made Pickett and Trubisky look like Montana and Young so far.
Not sure it matters.
Not sure we were watching the same game. Just what was Wilson supposed to do? Under fire on every drop back, this is the rebuilt O-line?
But it looks like the same old Steelers. Can’t open holes for the running game, can’t protect the QB.
Same old post game propaganda.
Yea figs…I’m not sure what the guy was watching…but Wilson didn’t have a chance.
They say “it’s only pre-season” but this team and specifically, this offense, look suspiciously a lot like what we saw under Canada and with 3 stiffs at QB
I like how a couple players are resorting to the old “ we don’t want to show our playbook during preseason” spiel. Yeah. Ok
Hard to get excited after watching these two games
Having Pickens and Aiyuk would be a waste. Fields only check down if his primary receiver isn’t open is to run.
If Aiyuk watched the game last night, it made his decision easy. Can’t utilize wideouts when your line can’t protect the QB
The contract extension with the 49ers is basically complete. Aiyuk just wants a tweek in the final year of the deal. This is one of the main writers out in the SF area so he is a credible source. This is what mainstream media isn’t telling you. It’s not 60-40 edge for the Niners. Its 99/1.
link to youtube.com
As others have pointed out, Pittsburgh didn’t look great on offense in its most recent action. Now, it’s tge preseason, and I expect improvement throughout the year, but you still have to have concern for how high the ceiling is in the Steel City. The Steelers always manage to find something that works, even if it’s not pretty, but it’s impossible to think that Aiyuk didn’t watch that and consider his place on his current, smooth running offense in comparison.
Maybe the Steelers are just working out their issues in the preseason, but right now all you have is confidence in potential there and no results. In the right now, it had to have made an impression. Any doubts that Aiyuk may have had about staying in San Fran (likely his lead option right now even before the game) probably got smaller after seeing that.
It was great fun to see apparent QB guru Dan Orlovsky say that not all of the sacks on Wilson or pressure that came with every pass attempt was on the O-line. He went on to say that Fields gives them the best opportunities
Sheesh. I haven’t seen anything that indicates great opportunities, except for Sunday afternoons working on the yard
I had high hopes for this season. I still do
But re-watching a bit of the game on NFL Network yesterday reinforced the idea that it’s hard to get excited by this group
What a dreary time to be a fan of pro sports in this town
WHO CARES ANYMORE!!!!@
SF should be embarrassed by the way they are handling this whole situation. You let a WR that has barely accomplished anything totally dictate this whole soap opera while the rest of the league laughs. Aiyuk is a spoiled brat that shouldn’t be getting anything more than what his contract states. Yet you go and allow him to pursue his own trade partners and when he finds nothing to his likeness you may indeed give him what he wants anyways? What a joke! I’m so glad that my squad (Lions) is ran the way it is. You didn’t see St. Brown, Goff or Sewell crying to the media and moaning about their contact situations. This is a sad tale indeed.
St. Brown and Sewell deserved their contracts…that Jared Goff one is a head scratcher guaranteed $177M.
I’ll take Goff at his AV over, say, Daniel Jones and Trevor Lawrence at theirs.
QB cost is what it is. A starting QB not on Rookie deal is gonna cost 40, 50m+, that simple. Unless you are the Raiders.
Detroit had a ton more cap room to deal with as well. The sad tale is having a three score lead in the 3rd quarter of the NFC championship game and allowing this joke of a team to beat you senseless in the 2nd half.
Lol! Said the butt hurt SF fan! Hahahah
Will Brandon Aiyuk finally sign the contract? Will he go on a social media and whine? find out next time on NFL Offseason Z
The AAV is over 9000!
I mean seems to me 49ers have a GIANT edge for Aiyuk since, you know, he is ON THEIR ROSTER
What a dumb headline