Due to the 49ers‘ interest in keeping Brandon Aiyuk via an extension, the fifth-year wide receiver carried substantial control during his trade sweepstakes despite the lack of a no-trade clause. Although Aiyuk shut down Cleveland and New England as destinations, as his San Francisco talks continued, he was believed to be fine being dealt to Pittsburgh. Until the 11th hour, that is.
While Aiyuk ended up signing a four-year, $120MM extension to remain with the 49ers, FOX’s Jay Glazer reports the team nearly traded him to the Steelers on the day he agreed to terms. After giving Aiyuk what amounted to an ultimatum two weeks ago, the 49ers were finalizing a trade to the Steelers. Aiyuk intervened, however, leading to a frantic sequence that shut down this would-be deal. The Steelers’ party line pointed to the team expecting Aiyuk to sign a 49ers extension, but it certainly appears they were in this until the end.
Aiyuk showed up early to the 49ers’ facility August 29, meeting with Kyle Shanahan to inform the eighth-year HC he was still interested in staying. Shanahan attempted to call the 49ers’ front office power brokers to inform them of this, but Glazer adds he was unable to get through due to team brass’ discussions with the Steelers about the then-impending trade. Shanahan then proceeded to run across the facility to stop trade talks, with the team then expressing its final ultimatum.
Aiyuk had until the end of practice August 29 to commit to the team — via the extension offer that had been on the table since August 12 — or be traded. Shanahan effectively confirmed (via 49ersWebZone.com) Glazer’s account after the 49ers’ Week 1 win over the Jets.
That development wrapped one of the busiest wide receiver sagas in recent NFL history. The 49ers had put two offers on the table for Aiyuk earlier in August — a three-year deal worth $87MM and the four-year, $120MM proposal — but SI.com’s Albert Breer indicated the fifth-year wideout rejected both. San Francisco had remained at its $26MM-per-year offer — which surfaced in May — until training camp but eventually came up toward Aiyuk’s price point. The guarantees in San Francisco’s 3/87 offer are not known, but the AAV would have still checked in more than $5MM north of Deebo Samuel‘s three-year deal (3/71.55).
That $26MM-per-year number came in lower than the Steelers’ extension offer — $27.7MM — but Aiyuk said he factored quarterback play and long-term success into his decision, ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner adds. The 49ers saw Aiyuk and Brock Purdy form a potent connection last season, when Aiyuk zoomed to second-team All-Pro honors and led the NFC champions in receiving by a wide margin.
San Francisco has also become one of this period’s most reliable teams, advancing to two Super Bowls and two more conference championship games since 2019. The Steelers continue to stay above .500, but they have not won a playoff game since 2016. Their quarterback situation also invites major questions — particularly beyond 2024.
The Steelers had been part of a potential three-team trade — for all intents and purposes — involving the Broncos, as the 49ers had attempted to flip Pittsburgh’s third-round pick for Courtland Sutton. Denver declined, but Breer adds the 49ers ultimately called around a dozen teams discussing trades for wide receivers. The Steelers offered second- and third-round pick for Aiyuk but did not include any players, which did not mesh with what the 49ers wanted as they constructed another Super Bowl-contending roster. The other 49ers calls also involved the team attempting to trade the Steelers third-round pick for a wideout.
Despite the 49ers’ reservations about the Steelers not including a veteran player in their proposal, Pittsburgh and San Francisco agreed to trade parameters in mid-August. Despite his team’s short- and long-term QB uncertainty, Mike Tomlin had presented a draw for Aiyuk. This ties to the respected HC’s conversations with the wideout during the pre-draft process in 2020, Breer adds. The Steelers had traded their 2020 first-rounder for Minkah Fitzpatrick months earlier but did draft a wideout with its first pick that year (Chase Claypool, No. 49). The 49ers had taken Aiyuk at 25.
The Browns were willing to offer Aiyuk $30MM per season on a three-year deal, but the top extension offer in this derby still came from a Patriots team that had also chased Calvin Ridley in free agency.
New England also sent two offers Aiyuk’s way, per Breer, who adds the team was willing to pay the former first-round pick $32MM per year on a four-year deal and $30MM AAV on a three-year contract. As far as the Pats’ trade offer goes, Breer reports they proposed a 2025 second-rounder, a 2026 fourth and one veteran player. The 49ers had asked about a Kendrick Bourne reunion. While Breer does not specify which player the Pats were set to include, Bourne represents a good guess — even though his ACL rehab landed him on the PUP list.
George Pickens does not have much in the way of proven help in Pittsburgh. Ex-Rams and Falcons supporting-caster Van Jefferson started Sunday. Roman Wilson did not make his debut in Atlanta, but Tomlin said the third-round rookie will see more practice time soon. An ankle injury kept Wilson off the field during the preseason. The Steelers have a strong WR development track record, but after narrowly missing out on Aiyuk, they certainly look to need a quick progression from Wilson.
“I’m comfortable with the performance of these guys,” Tomlin said about his auxiliary WR group. “(I) had some questions, even dating back to spring, and to be quite honest with you, I probably went into the receiver room a couple weeks into camp and told them that. I just believe in being really transparent.
“But the consistency with which those guys performed in Latrobe and with team development has made me more comfortable, and specifically I’m talking about Scotty Miller and Van Jefferson. I just can’t say enough about the consistency with which they’ve performed, their floor.”
The Steelers added Miller, who joined Jefferson in playing under Arthur Smith last season, shortly after the draft. Miller played 17 offensive snaps against the Falcons; Jefferson logged 49 and caught one pass.
Ugh, what a mess. Now glad he stayed with the 49ers.
Lynch needs to stop playing the “we love you / we don’t love you” game with players. First it was Jimmy G and now Aiyuk. I’m guessing Kittle will be the next guy the GM does this dance with.
Maybe you’re about Garappolo, but I find it hard to blame Lynch for Aiyuk’s decision making here. Perhaps Lynch could, in some respects, be blamed for allowing Aiyuk to play the 9ers with these other teams, but I don’t think that he ever sent a message of not wanting Aiyuk in San Fran.
There was just a ridiculous amount of posturing by both Lynch and Aiyuk in this drama. Aiyuk knows he’s going to be playing somewhere but for Lynch this was just a distraction that he could have done without by deciding right from the start if the player is going to be part of his plans or not.
This has been an open secret around the league since Aiyuk signed the big extension. The only ones who didn’t know about his nearly being traded were the MNF broadcasters.
Who cares, better ways for them to spend 30 mil!
This article is well written
Enough of APUKEY and his bs.
Nobody cares. Stop with stories about him. Why do you insist on believing this is news?
And yet you either read the whole article or at least cared enough to scroll through and post.
I never understood this argument. Message boards were created exactly for this kind of communication.
I still think the price is a bit high, but Aiyuk is as complete as a receiver as you’ll find in the NFL.
Whether it is his ability to rack up yards after the catch, his versatile route tree, his ability to make plays deep down the field, his ability to separate at all three levels, his quality play against both man and zone coverage, his ability to block on the perimeter, or his ability to block downfield to help extend plays and spring his teammates for explosives, Brandon Aiyuk is one of the most complete WRs in the league.
He only dropped I believe two or maybe three passes last year, so he’s also reliable as they come. Now, with that being said, he already dropped two passes during the 49ers Week 1 contest. Although, honestly, that really isn’t all that surprising considering he sat out all of the offseason activities and he just started practicing less than a week ago.
I expect Aiyuk to continue to look a little rusty going into Week 2 and possibly even Week 3, but it shouldn’t take him long to bounceback into his All-Pro form..
Jesus, though, once all of the 49ers get healthy, idk how anyone is going to stop their offense. At the RB spot they have the reigning NFC Offensive Player of the Year in CMC, and they also have Jordan Mason, who all he does is consistently average about 5 yards per carry ever since he entered the league. Then, they also have Guerendo who is an excellent fit for Kyle’s scheme. He’s got 4.3 40 speed, and he is their perfect one cut and go type of RB cut from the same cloth as Raheem Mostert. This guy is going to be an absolute problem once he gets his feet wet, and Kyle gains more trust in him…
Then, they also have their Swiss army knife, FB Juice, and the most complete TE in the game and the YAC champion George Kittle. Saubert also isn’t a bad option as their 2nd/3rd TE, and he’s a very solid blocker.
J.Jennings is one of the most underrated big slot WRs in the league, and he’s absolute money on 3rd downs. He’s one of the slowest WRs in the league, but he makes plays, gets open, and he’s one of the best blocking WRs in the NFL. I already discussed Aiyuk, and then they also have his partner in crime Deebo. Deebo is a YAC machine, and he’s just the definition of an offensive weapon. Whether he’s lined up at RB taking handoffs, catching passes out of the backfield, taking reverses and jet sweeps, making plays deep, or turning little 3-4 yard dump passes into 15yard first downs and extending drives, Deebo does it all and he sets the tone for this offense. Deebo and Kittle are almost always the aggressors with the ball in their hands, and they force their opponents to wear down and start making business decisions by the time the 4Q rolls around..
Then, they also have Chris Conley who is basically Brandon Aiyuk lite. He’s an ACE Gunner on ST, and he’s extremely reliable whenever his number gets called. He was money in the playoffs when the 49ers needed Conley to step up, and if anyone gets hurt he will undoubtedly step up again.
Last but not least, Brock Purdy also has two new weapons the 49ers acquired via the draft this year in Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing. Cowing is their new punt returner, and it’s easy to see how explosive he is with the ball in his hands. Coming out of this draft, Cowing had the fastest get off, and his ability to accelerate was unmatched. Also, for a smaller in stature speedster, Cowing has a very versatile route tree, and he’s capable of lining up all over the formation. He showed what he’s capable of in the pre-season, and he will be an excellent occasional weapon if the 49ers feel he’s ready to start contributing on offense in a role similar to Ray Ray McCloud’s last season. Although, Cowing is already the better receiver, and he’s already the better return man, which is a major compliment, because RayRay isn’t a slouch by any means.
Last but not least, it is their first round pick, Ricky Pearsall. Pearsall can line up all over the field, and he has the skillset to succeed in whatever role Kyle sees it for him. He has extremely quick feet, he’s as precise a route runner as you’ll see, and he’s capable of making plays at all three levels. It’s going to be extremely interesting to see how Pearsall fits into the 49ers offense once he gets healthy.
No matter the personnel, when they are fully healthy the 49ers are going to be an absolute nightmare for their opponents to try and stop. Whether it is going 5 wide with Deebo, Jennings, Aiyuk, Cowing, and Pearsall, whether it is going in an empty set with CMC, Kittle, and any three WRs joining them, whether it is multiple TE sets, 3 wide, multiple RBs, traditional I-formation, it doesn’t matter these boys are going to be he11 on wheels, and good luck stopping them!!
Dude chill. This is a comment section on a rumors site, not sb nation
If you want to read it, read it..If not, move on. It isn’t a very difficult concept to understand and follow.
I write for therapy for myself and it helps me when I’m anxious or temporarily stressed. Then, if anyone else can gain anything from it, I’m happy for them.
If that’s you, cool. If not, there’s always the mute button.
For the record, you can also find some of my short stories on SB Nation. (ninersnation) lol
The issue here is that your comment is all over the field and looks like a cut and paste.
It’s supposed to be a conversation, not a lecture. Especially not a cut and paste lecture.
TLDR
i believe we can lose, You also do CrossFit?
I can’t find the time cuz of these manifestos.
i believe we can lose, lolololololololololololol valid response.
Nixed the trade? That would be like saying my kid nixed his punishment. I’m the one in charge lol. Anyway I’m glad Aiyuk “nixed” the trade.
Sounds like the 49ers called his bluff but still ended up paying him 30m a year. In the end they kind of needed each other.
When does this finally transition into the “nobody cares” category?
I feel like now’s a good time, right? We got the weeks of back and forth, which was relevant at the time, finally got the finale, and now this is covering the resolution. It makes sense to me, for a rumors site.
Love what Khan did here, actually.
Tried to get a bargain in both the trade and the contract and when he couldn’t, he didn’t chase.
I’m a 49er fan and hope I’m wrong, but this shows a person character and now that he has his money I feel like Aiyuk is going to flame out. Week 1 was just the start of it. I’m hoping they can still trade him in the off-season. Would much rather have Deebo.