Steelers' AFC North Rival's Analyst Worried About Big WR Trade: "Just Hope [Brandon] Aiyuk Doesn't Land [In Pittsburgh]"

The idea of the Pittsburgh Steelers making a fair trade for a dynamic wide receiver like Brandon Aiyuk is certainly attractive to the fan base. There is no telling whether or not the San Francisco 49ers will pull the trigger after the pass-catcher's alleged trade request on Tuesday. One thing is for sure, however; if General Manager John Lynch is fielding calls, there is no doubt that Omar Khan will reach out to get the temperature of the situation. The only team in the AFC North that can afford Aiyuk is Pittsburgh, and he would be an incredible player to put opposite of George Pickens.

Aiyuk has been lucky to play in an incredible offense during his time in San Francisco. Some are still not sure that he is worth nearly $30 million despite his breakout season in 2023. He could see a dip in production if opposing defenses focus on him if he plays elsewhere, but throwing him in the same offense as Pickens could produce great results for the two of them.

One Baltimore Ravens beat writer is recognizing this and warning fans to pull for Aiyuk to either stay out West, or be traded anywhere other than the Steel City. In a recent mailbag, Ryan Mink was asked if he saw the potential for the Ravens to try and pull off a deal to land Aiyuk. He said it wasn't going to happen and unprovoked, brought up the Steelers.

"The 49ers have a lot more cap space than the Ravens ($31.5 million) and a history of getting extensions with star players done during training camp or later. Just hope that Aiyuk doesn't land with the Steelers, who are the AFC North team that would have the best odds of landing him," Mink wrote.

It will be interesting to see if the 49ers get another deal done when the waters seemed murky. Aiyuk has certainly seemed like he wants to play elsewhere, but at 26 and entering his prime, the trade request may have been a tactical move to push San Francisco's front office to come up with a more attractive offer quicker so the wideout could be ready to suit up come training camp.

It doesn't seem feasible for Aiyuk to emerge as a trade candidate for any other AFC North team and while the Steelers' offense may not be as scary on paper as the 49ers, Aiyuk coming on board definitely makes it much more formidable. Having a one-two punch in the backfield with Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, a duo of top-notch wide receivers in Aiyuk and Pickens, along with a veteran quarterback in Russell Wilson, could surprise a lot of people.

This will all come down to the 49ers' asking price for Khan and Pittsburgh. The financial burden in terms of cap space won't be too harsh given the flexibility the organization currently has for 2025 and beyond. The biggest problem and hurdle, however, becomes the draft capital that San Francisco is going to desire for a young play-maker like Aiyuk. A first-round pick may simply be too much for Khan to justify making a sign-and-trade deal.

Steelers Could Still Get By Offensively Without Aiyuk

It would be nice to have another star-studded receiver to pair with Pickens, but it's not the end of the world if it doesn't happen. New Offensive Coordinator, Arthur Smith is known for having a run-heavy, play-action offense. If the duo of Harris and Warren can perform, the team won't need to have two perennial All-Pro players catching passes. If the offensive line isn't clicking and running backs underperform, however, that's when Khan could regret not making a move for Aiyuk.

Do you think the Steelers should trade for Aiyuk? Let us know in the comments below!

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