Brandon Aiyuk

Latest On WR Contracts

August 23rd, 2024 at 10:00pm CST by Ely Allen

The regular season draws ever nearer, and there are still three receivers who are waiting for new contracts. Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk are still holding out from team activities, while Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase is continuing with his hold-in.

Lamb is entering the final year of his rookie contract on a fifth-year option and, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, the 25-year-old is angling for a contract to rival Justin Jefferson‘s recent deal in Minnesota. This doesn’t necessarily refer to annual average value, but focuses, as well, on guarantees, cashflow, and overall structure. Dallas and Lamb are expected to communicate this weekend as they attempt to get this extension over the finish line.

Chase is still not practicing as he attends team events in Cincinnati. The Bengals have exercised Chase’s fifth-year option, so the 24-year-old still has two years left on his rookie deal. While he hopes to enter the season with a new extension, his former LSU teammate, Jefferson, had to wait until after his fourth NFL season to secure his bag. It’s looking like the same might be true for Chase, but if that’s the case, Cincinnati needs to figure out a way to get Chase on the field and ready for the fast-approaching regular season. Mike Garafolo of NFL Network sees this coming week as a crucial time for the team to navigate this situation.

With Aiyuk, the rumors continue to swirl and paint an unreliable picture. Last night, in an interview on KNBR, Mike Silver of the San Francisco Chronicle claimed that “everything is still on the table, including all the trades you’ve heard about.” He noted the Steelers and Commanders as teams not to rule out but left the picture as cloudy as ever.

After the team’s initial contract offer fell short of expectations, they attempted to bring Aiyuk back in to try and close the gap. Garafolo reports that the two sides don’t seem to be that far apart on contract figures anymore, and Aiyuk even traveled with the 49ers to their final preseason game in Las Vegas. While this may be a sign of good faith and a sign that the things could be on their way to a resolution, Silver’s comments still leave plenty of room for doubt.

The NFL season starts in 13 days. In order for these three receivers to be on the field for Week 1, they’re either going to need to have new contracts in hand or they’re going to need to come to terms with the fact that they’re going to be playing under their current deals with no guarantee that they won’t be testing free agency in the future. While most teams prefer not to have contract discussions during the regular season, there’s always a possibility that close negotiations bleed over a bit into September and deals are reached midseason.

Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers Making Progress On Deal; Ownership Involved

August 22nd, 2024 at 4:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

AUGUST 22: During a Thursday appearance on KNBR radio, Lynch noted the potential for CeeDee Lamb and Ja’Marr Chase to further alter the receiver market on Cowboys and Bengals extensions, respectively (h/t Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle). Each of those pacts will likely check in at a rate above $30MM per season, although Cincinnati appears to be willing to wait until 2025 in Chase’s case.

Further upward movement in the market would likely boost Aiyuk’s asking price, but meeting the 49ers’ goal of finalizing a pact would eliminate that possibility. With other big-ticket deals on the books (and another on the way in the form of Brock Purdy), Lynch confirmed the team’s other commitments is another factor complicating an Aiyuk deal. Efforts to keep him – not to mention Trent Williams – in the fold continue.

AUGUST 20: Brandon Aiyuk continues to drift farther away from the Steelers’ grasp. The would-be trade candidate went through another meeting with 49ers brass. The sides are making progress toward an extension, according to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz.

This endless saga has produced multiple consequential meetings — a midsummer summit Aiyuk requested and an early-August powwow that seemed to come after a Steelers extension offer did not meet the receiver’s expectations — and this Monday effort can perhaps be added here. Aiyuk’s hold-in persists, but positive signs are emerging for the 49ers.

Although the 49ers have trade parameters in place with the Steelers, they are believed to have upped their offer from where it was around notable meeting No. 1 ($26-$27MM per year). The sides are believed to be in agreement on the major deal points, but Schultz adds the minor details are going up to the ownership level. The 49ers have managed to strike late-summer deals with George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, Jimmy Garoppolo and Nick Bosa during the 2020s. While Bosa scored a defender-record contract, Aiyuk is driving a hard bargain in his own right. That led to the trade talks, though those have steadily dissipated.

It is worth wondering if the Bears’ recent D.J. Moore extension helped lock in a price point for the 49ers and Aiyuk. The Bears gave Moore a $27.5MM-per-year extension that included $82.6MM in total guarantees. While the former Panthers first-rounder has a longer track record of consistency, Aiyuk nearly topped Moore’s career-best receiving yardage total (1,364) on far fewer targets. Aiyuk, who is one year younger than Moore (at 26), reached 1,342 yards on just 105 targets. Moore is currently the NFL’s seventh-highest-paid receiver; it is difficult to envision this arduous Aiyuk process finalizing without the 49ers topping that.

Aiyuk’s efficient 2023 has prompted the 49ers wideout to seek terms near the top of the ballooning WR market. While Aiyuk has not been tied to an ask too close to Justin Jefferson‘s $35MM-per-year record number, he has sought an AAV around Amon-Ra St. Brown‘s $30.01MM mark and guarantees in A.J. Brown territory ($84MM).

The Steelers’ offer coming in below $28MM per year appears to have sent Aiyuk back to negotiating with the 49ers, who have reengaged in serious talks for several days now. Pittsburgh not including any veteran players in its proposal, thus not helping a 2024 49ers team aiming to complete its long-held championship pursuit under Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch, has hurt the AFC North team’s cause as well. But Aiyuk did not show much interest in joining the Patriots or Browns, leaving the Steelers as the alternative to a long-term 49ers future.

A league source recently expressed surprise (via veteran NFL reporter Josina Anderson) that Aiyuk did not show interest in a Patriots offer believed to be worth up to $32MM per year and feature a strong Year 1 payout. The 49ers, however, feature a setup Aiyuk has proven he can thrive in, and the receiver appears to hold Mike Tomlin in high enough regard it is viewed as a drawing card for the fifth-year wideout. For now, an Aiyuk-to-Pittsburgh reality is losing steam fast — as the 49ers try to complete an extension they have been at work on for several months.

49ers Getting Close On Trent Williams Extension?

August 21st, 2024 at 8:26pm CST by Ely Allen

Another day, another update concerning the contract situations in San Francisco. According to Cam Inman of The Mercury News, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan gave updates on the team’s ongoing negotiations today. While one update lacked an abundance of new information, Shanahan seemed to hint that the other could be on its way to a resolution.

Star offensive tackle Trent Williams has been committed to his holdout as the 36-year-old pushes for a new deal that improves upon the figures he’s currently stuck with until 2027. Our most recent update showed that Williams’ camp had been contacted by the team as they attempted to appease his dissatisfaction.

In an interview on KNBR, Shanahan told his interviewers, “I’ve had some contact with (Williams). It’s been good to talk to him. I know we’re negotiating hard. Nothing new to add, but hopefully it’s getting close.”

Williams’ presence on the field is far too impactful for the 49ers to risk not starting the season with him in uniform, especially with star running back Christian McCaffrey coming off an injury. With the team’s lack of experienced depth on the offensive line, especially at tackle, it doesn’t seem likely that they’ll allow Williams to sit out for much longer.

Now, to the other situation: the hold-in of wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Unfortunately, Shanahan’s update on the Aiyuk-negotiations were far less informative. “Oh, so much has changed,” Shanahan joked to open his most recent explanation of the situation. “No, no new updates. I’m sorry to keep being boring with that, but I wish I was saying something different, but nothing’s changed yet.”

We’ve gotten so many conflicting reports concerning the slow-but-seemingly-sure progress of an extension for the young wide receiver. Whether they’re still far apart or getting close, the situation seems to be improving. The 49ers continue to work to hold on to Aiyuk, while Pittsburgh waits patiently across the table, tapping the offer sheet that the Steelers submitted so long ago.

Mike Tomlin Driving Brandon Aiyuk’s Steelers Interest; Latest On Pittsburgh’s Extension Offer

August 19th, 2024 at 9:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

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.

Patriots’ Eliot Wolf Addresses Brandon Aiyuk Pursuit, Team’s WR Depth

August 18th, 2024 at 3:16pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Patriots were one of the teams which worked out the framework of a trade for Brandon Aiyuk. The 49ers wideout is not interested in playing for New England, however, a stance which he appears to also hold with the Browns.

As a result, the Patriots are reported to be out of the running to land Aiyuk. New England made a concerted effort to sign Calvin Ridley in free agency, and the team likewise had a major financial commitment ready in Aiyuk’s case. The latter could have signed for as much as $32MM per season on a long-term deal, but his choice is now down to the 49ers or the Steelers. With New England’s attention once again on in-house receiving options, de facto general manager Eliot Wolf confirmed a renewed Aiyuk push will not take place.

“Yeah, just kind of a feel,’ Wolf said when speaking to the media about the 26-year-old’s situation (via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk). “It was sort of a situation where he’s still in San Francisco, and that hasn’t been worked out from their standpoint yet. But we just felt, organizationally, our young receivers have had a really good week, and they’re continuing to progress, so we’re excited about those guys.”

Indeed, the Patriots have made a number of receiver investments via the draft in recent years. The likes of Demario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker have all been added via that route since 2023. Those players, along with returnee Kendrick Bourne and free agent addition K.J. Osborn will compete for targets in a receiver room which no longer includes JuJu Smith-Schuster.

Like Ridley, Aiyuk would have provided New England with a considerable boost in the passing game. The Arizona State product has increased his production each season, earning second-team All-Pro honors in 2023 after he posted 75 receptions and a 17.9 yards per catch average. Neither the 49ers nor the Steelers have been willing to match New England’s offer from a financial standpoint, but signs continue to point to San Francisco retaining Aiyuk being the likeliest outcome in his saga.

In the meantime, the Patriots’ attention will turn to the quarterback situation. Third overall pick Drake Maye has made progress during training camp and the preseason, and the door is still open to him supplanting veteran Jacoby Brissett as the starter before Week 1. Whichever passer is in place to start the season, though, Aiyuk will not be part of the team’s receiving corps.

49ers Have ‘Slight Edge’ On Steelers For Brandon Aiyuk

August 17th, 2024 at 10:17pm CST by Sam Robinson

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.

John Lynch Addresses 49ers’ Interest In Keeping Brandon Aiyuk

August 16th, 2024 at 10:23pm CST by Sam Robinson

Going nearly two days without a Brandon Aiyuk update has been out of character for this space, based on the news volume this situation has produced this summer. John Lynch is offering another one, discussing the sides’ enduring extension talks rather than any trade possibility.

The 49ers are believed to have trade parameters set with the Steelers, but that clearly seems like the organization’s backup plan. After all, it would be difficult to replace Aiyuk given the timing here. And the 49ers are gunning for an elusive Lynch-Kyle Shanahan-era Super Bowl title. Aiyuk represents a central part of that equation, and the 49ers are still trying to hammer out a deal. They ramped up negotiations again late last week. Though, they have been at this for several months.

“We started this early and for whatever reason haven’t been able to get it across the finish line,” Lynch said during an appearance on KNBR’s Murph and Markus show (via NFL.com). “That’s been frustrating, but the communication still has been really good both with Brandon and his agent, and we’re trying to figure out solutions.

“You know I’m always hopeful. I’m an optimistic person in nature, and I’m always hopeful that we’ll get there and get there soon. I can tell you, we feel the urgency to have him, the season’s approaching, and we have ample time.”

As the Steelers wait as the fallback option, the 49ers have upped their extension offer to the second-team All-Pro wide receiver. After a hyper-efficient 2023 season, Aiyuk has seen the receiver market shift once again. The fifth-year player has placed his value considerably higher than the 49ers’ assessment, but it does seem the gap has narrowed. Would the 49ers really trade their best outside receiver at this juncture on their timeline because of the small value gap that remains?

Lynch did indicate he wished he knew what Aiyuk’s holdup is, as the wideout’s slow-moving talks have dominated 49ers coverage this year. The eighth-year San Francisco GM did discuss Aiyuk in trades during the draft, but this is not the first time since the negotiations began that Lynch expressed hope Aiyuk would remain a 49ers in the long term.

Although the team agreed to deals with George Kittle and Deebo Samuel early in camp (2020, 2022), they reached resolutions with Nick Bosa and Jimmy Garoppolo just before the season. The 49ers still have more than three weeks before Week 1, though Aiyuk would presumably need some practice reps in advance of the Jets matchup in order to begin the season as a full-time player. Shanahan said this week he trusts the receiver to be ready, however, and Aiyuk has attended meetings during his hold-in.

“We love BA as a player; I think you see it every time he goes out there representing the Niners,” Lynch said. “He’s a guy we traded up for in the first round back in the ’20 draft. I remember doing it from my guest house during the covid times, and we’re fortunate to have added him to our squad, and we’d really like to keep him around. So we’ll see how it goes.”

Aiyuk, 26, is believed to have wedged the Patriots and Browns out of the mix. Although the Steelers’ offensive situation is not on the 49ers’ level and does not feature a surefire long-term QB option, Aiyuk looks to have approved Pittsburgh as a destination. The Steelers might be waiting a bit, however, as Lynch sounds committed to taking the time necessary to complete an extension.

Latest On 49ers, Brandon Aiyuk

August 14th, 2024 at 3:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

Around 24 hours since a report indicating the 49ers and Steelers had agreed on Brandon Aiyuk trade compensation emerged, the fifth-year wide receiver remains with San Francisco. Aiyuk continues his hold-in.

The Steelers continue to wait on this situation, with ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler indicating the AFC North team remains motivated to acquire the dissatisfied wide receiver. But trade talks may have slowed down. Although the teams are believed to have trade parameters in place, Fowler adds talks were quiet in recent days. This note comes days after a report that mentioned 49ers extension talks had intensified following another Aiyuk meeting with team brass.

On this note, Aiyuk watched 49ers practice with teammates Wednesday and greeted GM John Lynch at one point, per the San Jose Mercury News’ Cam Inman. This has been the receiver’s usual routine, but it is notable the club continues to have a high-profile player who could be on the verge of becoming the centerpiece of a blockbuster trade still on the sidelines at practice.

Aiyuk has also continued to attend 49ers meetings during this saga, according to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco. This separates the Aiyuk matter from Trent Williams‘ holdout and how the team proceeded with trade-block occupant Jimmy Garoppolo in 2022. Garoppolo threw on the side and did not attend meetings before agreeing to a late-summer resolution to stay in San Francisco.

“I trust Brandon knows what he’s got to do for this year to get ready to play,” Kyle Shanahan said, via the San Francisco Chronicle’s Eric Branch. “I have a feeling he’s finding a way to stay in shape and do those things. But there’s a football-shape element that I know he is eager to get back to — and us, too. So, hopefully, we can get to that soon. But Brandon knows what he’s got to do to be in shape for the season, and I feel confident he is doing that.”

The 49ers are believed to have upped their offer recently, and Tuesday’s update revealed San Francisco remains his preferred destination. After a report pegged both Aiyuk and the 49ers as underwhelmed by the Steelers’ offers — on the extension and trade fronts — the teams are at least in agreement. The ball is largely in Aiyuk’s court, though the 49ers do not necessarily have to move him. They are still clearly interested in seeing if common ground on numbers can be reached.

It would, then, seem odd if a team that narrowly missed out on a Super Bowl championship would go this far down a trade route — particularly at this point on the calendar, when a replacement will be difficult to obtain — but here we are. The Steelers appear to still believe, unlike the Browns and Patriots after offers did not produce deals, they can acquire the 26-year-old pass catcher — even if such a move would significantly affect the 2024 49ers’ title hopes.

Pittsburgh is believed to have submitted a trade offer including no players. Considering where they reside in the championship picture, the 49ers understandably sought veterans — a wideout, in particular — as part of an Aiyuk trade package. The Steelers, who do not have a comparable wideout they are willing to trade, are believed to have offered a deal in the $28MM-per-year neighborhood. If the 49ers have raised their offer, they may be in the same place. A $26-$27MM-AAV San Francisco price range surfaced earlier this summer.

This situation is not exactly oozing trade vibes at present. Still, the Steelers — who have certainly not been known to be on the receiving end of high-profile wideout trades — remain prepared to accommodate a big-ticket Aiyuk payment and pair him with George Pickens. This would seem incongruous to the 49ers’ immediate needs, but a trade remains a possibility. The wait continues.

Steelers Have Brandon Aiyuk Trade Agreement Worked Out; 49ers Extension Offer Also In Play

August 13th, 2024 at 10:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

10:00pm: While an Aiyuk-to-Pittsburgh remains in play, it sounds like a trade hasn’t been completed because the 49ers believe they can convince the wideout to stick in San Francisco. Per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the 49ers and Aiyuk’s camp aren’t “that far apart on a deal.” The reporter notes that the 49ers have improved their offer in recent days, and it “has always” been the player’s preference to stick with San Francisco.

12:50pm: Brandon Aiyuk may still find his way to Pittsburgh, but the possibility of a long-term San Francisco deal also exists. A trade agreement has been worked out between the teams, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Rapoport adds that the Steelers are “in a good place” with respect to an extension for the All-Pro wideout. The 49ers also have a standing offer to Aiyuk which would allow him to stay in the Bay Area for 2024 and beyond, however. That offer has not yet been accepted.

As the waiting game continues, Aiyuk will have the option of choosing to take a multi-year 49ers deal or, failing that, the 49ers will be in position to authorize the trade. Terms on an extension will be critical, of course. The Steelers have not yet been willing to reach $30MM per season on a deal; that has also been the case for San Francisco. Whereas trade terms had not yet been sufficient from the 49ers’ perspective, though, today’s update points to a Steelers acquisition once again being a distinct possibility.

Rapoport’s report does not specify what Pittsburgh has offered, but the package set to head to the Bay Area will no doubt be noteworthy. Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette repeats his previous reporting, though, that no Steelers players are involved. Both the Patriots and Browns had deals worked out, and those agreements would have sent Aiyuk to a new team. The 26-year-old nixed a reported deal which would have yielded Amari Cooper and a pair of draft picks for the Niners, given his preference not to play in Cleveland or New England. Pittsburgh has long been known to be a destination Aiyuk is interested in.

As the Athletic’s Dianna Russini confirms, the Steelers have been waiting on the trade front for days. Pittsburgh does not have a veteran receiver to offer in a trade (at least, not one of Cooper’s caliber). George Pickens is the centerpiece of the team’s passing attack as it currently stands, with Diontae Johnson having been traded away this spring. That move – coupled with the release of Allen Robinson – has led to speculation the Steelers could add a receiver, and an Aiyuk acquisition would certainly mark a major move for their offense.

Late last month, general manager Omar Khan said no deals at the receiver position were being explored. Interest in Aiyuk has erupted since then, with the former first-rounder’s trade request not sparking progress on a 49ers extension agreement. Aiyuk has long been tied to an asking price around $30MM per year, a mark four receivers are currently attached to. It will be interesting to see if San Francisco’s most recent offer reaches that point, or if the Steelers are prepared to up their latest one to get a trade over the finish line.

As the Jets’ situation with Haason Reddick proves, working out a trade without a firm extension in place can be highly problematic for the acquiring team. One year remains on Aiyuk’s rookie deal, and he is due $14.12MM in 2024 on the fifth-year option. A long-term deal will no doubt be worth roughly double that figure, perhaps more. Which team he plays on during his next pact remains to be seen, however.

Steelers’ Brandon Aiyuk Offer Short Of $30MM Per Year

August 12th, 2024 at 10:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

After an eventful week, the 49ers‘ top outside receiver/rumor machine remains on the NFC champions’ roster. Brandon Aiyuk‘s hold-in continues, and connections to teams have slowed a bit.

Details on the Patriots and Browns’ offers have emerged, and SI.com’s Albert Breer now sheds some light on where the Steelers have gone for the fifth-year wideout. Pittsburgh has offered a deal around $28MM per year. Aiyuk was believed to be less than satisfied with Pittsburgh’s proposal, and San Francisco has also expressed hesitancy regarding a Steelers trade package.

An early report had the Patriots’ offer beyond $28.5MM, but a subsequent assessment of New England’s proposal placed it in the $32MM-AAV area. Aiyuk hesitancy about joining the Patriots is interesting, given the offer. It is also unclear what the Pats were proposing the 49ers in trades, though Breer notes the 49ers asked for Kendrick Bourne. That is rather interesting since Bourne began his career in San Francisco, though he is obviously not on Aiyuk’s level and is coming off an ACL tear.

The Browns are believed to have offered Amari Cooper, along with second- and fifth-round picks. One of last week’s many Aiyuk storylines indicated he nixed a deal to Cleveland. Still, this would be a fascinating swap, seeing as Cleveland traded for another 2020 first-round wideout (Jerry Jeudy) months ago and gave him an extension. Cooper remains on his Cowboys-constructed contract, albeit with some incentives for 2024, and would satisfy a 49ers desire to acquire immediate receiving help if they are to actually trade Aiyuk.

Letting Aiyuk’s camp speak with teams doubled as a 49ers fact-finding mission, and while the Steelers may still be in this, Breer predicts this saga ends with a San Francisco deal finally coming to fruition. As of midsummer, the 49ers were believed to be in the $26-$27MM-per-year range. The Steelers’ approximate $28MM-per-year proposal would place Aiyuk around the point Jaylen Waddle settled at this offseason. Aiyuk has long been tied to wanting an AAV around the $30MM Amon-Ra St. Brown number, but the lack of interest in New England also effectively confirms he wants to join a team with fewer questions on offense.

The Dolphins gave Waddle a $28.25MM-AAV accord complete with $76MM guaranteed. The Steelers have not been big on multiyear guarantees for non-quarterbacks (or T.J. Watt), with signing bonuses doing much of the post-Year 1 work in most of the old-school franchise’s contracts. It would not surprise if that component is producing Aiyuk’s hesitancy regarding a Steelers offer. Of course, the 49ers would need to sign off on a deal to move him. And the Steelers, barring a counterproductive George Pickens inclusion, do not have a receiver to send over.

As of late last week, the Steelers were content to let the chips fall. Breer adds they do not want to include a player in their offer. An increased offer does not sound likely, though nothing can be completely ruled out right now. Following a work week of trade talks, the 49ers ramped up their extension effort — after another meeting with the player.

Months into this process, we continue to wait. The 49ers completed extensions with George Kittle, Deebo Samuel and Nick Bosa after training camp started. The sides now have more information as to what Aiyuk’s market is. That should provide a pathway to a deal or a trade — at long last.

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