The 49ers are still standing in the way of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ progress.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are committed to bringing in a seasoned wide receiver to complement George Pickens and Russell Wilson. Although Brandon Aiyuk has been one to watch up to this point, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, things aren’t going as well as people thought.
According to Rapoport, who was speaking on NFL Total Access, the San Francisco 49ers have been contacted on several occasions regarding a possible deal for Aiyuk, but none of them have been considered thus far.
Regarding the trade request, I concur with his agency at this point. No trade request has been made, according to Rapoport. “But, there have undoubtedly been some organizations that are aware of his problems and are aware that he is seeking a contract extension. Over the past few months, a few clubs in need of receivers have acquired to see if he could be available. The 49ers have not, as far as I know, taken any of those discussions seriously.”
Team insiders claim that the Steelers have held discussions with Aiyuk and are still optimistic about their chances of acquiring him. Now that the 49ers are adamant about their stance, they might have to wait until they give up on a contract extension before pursuing it.
Aiyuk is only costing any team $14 million this season and is coming off consecutive seasons of 1,000 yards or more. He’ll be seeking a contract extension for approximately $30 million annually, which casts doubt on his ability to play for any team, including the Steelers.
However, before the offseason ends, Pittsburgh would prefer to add a trustworthy name to their offensive lineup.