A Brandon Aiyuk-to-Pittsburgh transaction may still end up happening, but such a move continues to trend in the wrong direction for the Steelers. Multiple factors have contributed to this latest Aiyuk development.
The 49ers are viewed as having a slight edge on the Steelers to roster the fifth-year wide receiver this season. As it turns out, the teams’ extension offers are believed to be relatively similar. While we do not know the details regarding contract structure or guarantees, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes the Steelers offered a deal that featured an AAV south of $28MM.
We heard earlier this month the Steelers had underwhelmed Aiyuk with their extension offer and did not wow the 49ers with their trade proposal. A previous report also indicated this proposal landed in the $28MM-per-year neighborhood, but a deal south of that point would place Aiyuk no higher than seventh among receivers. This AAV would land behind Jaylen Waddle‘s recent Dolphins extension and around where the Bears went for D.J. Moore ($27.5MM per year).
But the 49ers and Steelers are still believed to have agreed on compensation — as a fallback option for the NFC West team, it appears. As of now, a trade seems to be the less likely scenario. The Steelers’ extension offer being “right in the neighborhood” of where the 49ers’ proposal checked in pushed the second-team All-Pro back to the table with his current team, Breer adds.
That has driven some progress between the 49ers and their top outside receiver. Aiyuk met with 49ers brass again recently, has attended position meetings and has watched practices — amid a now-lengthy hold-in — while this matter remains unresolved. But the 49ers are believed to have upped their offer. The sides may also have most of the deal done, with only final-year issues holding up the agreement. It would then seem the parties are close, but this saga has dragged for months and has brought several trade suitors into the mix.
Aiyuk, however, did not want to be dealt to New England or Cleveland. The Patriots offered Aiyuk more on an extension than the Steelers or 49ers have. San Francisco’s summer offer was in the $26-$27MM-per-year ballpark. Why, exactly, would Aiyuk prefer the Steelers to the Browns? Breer adds Mike Tomlin‘s presence served as the drawing card here.
That is certainly a notable nugget, as the Steelers do not have the 49ers outflanked in terms of offensive system or team success in recent years. Tomlin remains one of the game’s most respected figures, having famously never completed a sub-.500 season. Pittsburgh recently gave its 18th-year HC another extension.
The Steelers, of course, have not won a playoff game since 2016 and have struggled to form a consistent offense following Antonio Brown‘s 2019 exit. Pittsburgh has ranked 23rd or lower in total offense in each of the past five seasons, checking in as a top-20 scoring attack just once — Ben Roethlisberger‘s penultimate 2020 campaign — in that span. They are counting on either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields to provide an upgrade on the failed Kenny Pickett investment.
Aiyuk, 26, would obviously help the Steelers in this regard. But the team not including any players in the deal has hurt its chances at obtaining the talented receiver. The 49ers have never exactly wanted to trade Aiyuk, with John Lynch saying for months — most recently last week — the team wants the 2020 first-rounder in the fold long term.
San Francisco attempted to assemble a trade package that would replace Aiyuk immediately, with Cleveland offering Amari Cooper. Aiyuk nixed that deal. Absent the Steelers including George Pickens in a swap, they have no such presence to unload. It would be interesting to learn who the 49ers asked for on the Steelers’ roster outside of the receiver position, but as of now, the AFC North club is not including players in its proposal.
This months-long saga will reach some sort of conclusion before the season. Will Aiyuk be prepared to miss out on $831K game checks? The 49ers can waive his training camp absence fines, however, and the vibes here — and the team doing so for Nick Bosa last year — point to that happening if Aiyuk reports before Week 1. But the sides are still haggling. The wait persists in one of the most frequently updated negotiations in recent memory.
*bangs head repeatedly into wall*
Tomlin is the only draw? Yeah, Aiyuk ain’t coming to the Steelers then.
If he cares about winning, and if the deals are similar, might as well just stay in SF. Steelers have not won a playoff game since 2016 and have an uncertain QB situation.
Yes, but the problem is that either Aiyuk or his agent thinks they hold all the cards.
The 49ers have bent at the last minute, which they’re known to do, but now reportedly Aiyuk, or his agent, wants and is pressing for something to change in the final year of the 49ers proposed deal.
It seems like either Aiyuk or his agent is overplaying their hand, and the 49ers’ brass isn’t too appreciative of it.
They’re almost ready to start the race, but Aiyuk’s team wants to change the lane he starts in.
It’s the entire rest of the organization that disinterests Aiyuk.
NFL players respect Tomlin but, sure, yinzers know better.
Tim Benz said so.
Dude.
U mad bro???
Y u ask???
Lmfao. The niners have a slight edge to roster him? He’s under contract with the niners. They’ve been doing him a favor. Just stop
I’m already wondering what football media will do when this drama ends and Aiyuk finally stays in SF. Between this and the continuing coverage of the “battle to be starting QB in Pittsburgh” that ESPN pounds in its talk shows every single day, the season is going to seem anticlimactic. Sheesh.
I wonder where all the rus stans are about how he was going to transform the Steelers. Or the ones who said he had to be better than Pickett, when in fact he looked just like Pickett out there lol. The Steelers best chance is to play fields and release themselves from the rus headache.
Wait, this is your take after one game? 5 series in which he was under fire every time he dropped back. Seriously?
I think the Steelers have looked a lot like they did under Canada thus far, but MonkeysUncle is right. It’s exhibition. Kenny looked like Brady at this time last season. I’m willing to wait a few games. If he looks pathetic, I’ll be happy to join you with the criticisms
He has the same problem he did with us in Denver, he holds the ball too long and doesn’t see the middle of the field. He also showed this at the end of his Seahawks tenure. He’s aged past his mobile best days so he’s not able to get away with what skillset he possessed back in his heyday. Father Time waits for no one. Mark it down, you’d be better off letting fields scramble around and hope he fixes his fumbling problems.
He has two big problems to add to all that then, Ox. An O-line that had better get it together quickly and receivers who have to find some way to get open
No. No no no. This clown isn’t worth $28m/yr let alone the draft capital it would take to get him.
He’ll be crying to go back to San Fran Freako when he has to play against the Bengals, Browns, and the Ravens defenses 2 times a year. Especially when he thinks he’s all that. He’ll be the number 1 target for every secondary in the AFC North. Playing there isn’t for sissies.