A future by which the Steelers employ George Pickens and Brandon Aiyuk for Russell Wilson and/or Justin Fields — after which potentially a near-future heir apparent — to focus on stays in play, but as of Saturday morning, it just isn’t the expected scenario.
The Steelers remain on standby here as a fallback option, in keeping with ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, who notes this example has shifted from being a coin flip between Pittsburgh and San Francisco back to a spot by which the 49ers have a slight edge to find yourself extending the wide receiver. Since a Tuesday report confirmed the teams have trade parameters in place, this storyline has trended on this direction.
Indeed, Fowler adds execs across the league expect this drawn-out process to conclude with the 49ers extending Aiyuk. For the reason that trade framework got here out — though, it just isn’t known what the Steelers are prepared to trade — 49ers efforts to wrap this extension saga have headlined the most recent chapters in an limitless 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 stays for the 49ers to increase the second-team All-Pro.
The 49ers let Aiyuk’s camp talk terms with other teams, which led to Patriots and Browns proposals. Each AFC teams and the Commanders, who were also interested at one point (as they now roster former Aiyuk college QB Jayden Daniels), should not believed to be in the image 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 examine 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 be a 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 may be a difficulty with the ultimate 12 months of the team’s proposal. It’s unknown how long of a deal the 49ers proposed, but the topic of phony final years — that are present in Davante Adams‘ Raiders deal and were in Tyreek Hill‘s first Dolphins contract — could also be a 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 up-to-date offer around every week ago, per Garafolo.
The fifth-year receiver has been connected to wanting an AAV within 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 barely less — because the likely endgame here. The Steelers were believed to have offered Aiyuk around $28MM per 12 months.
Continued 49ers interest in avoiding a trade puts the Steelers in strange territory. As their Aiyuk trade effort suddenly looks shaky, the Steelers might have to give you a backup plan to enhance Pickens. Because it stands, Van Jefferson — he of 1 400-plus-yard season in 4 tries — is ticketed because the team’s top in-house WR2 option, The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo notes (subscription required). It has trended this fashion since Pittsburgh’s offseason program. Third-rounder Roman Wilson looms, but he has missed time during camp on account of injury.
It’ll be interesting to see if the Steelers change into connected to a different receiver as a security option — within the now-likelier event the 49ers finally extend Aiyuk.
