Steelers May Have Hit Huge Roadblock In Attempt To Trade For San Francisco 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk

No one is quite sure yet if the Pittsburgh Steelers and General Manager Omar Khan will pull off a trade that lands the organization San Francisco 49ers wideout Brandon Aiyuk. The rumors have been nonstop throughout the 2024 offseason, but really ramped up once the month of August arrived. It's becoming increasingly more likely that the disgruntled play-maker is dealt, and Pittsburgh appears to be his city of choice. That doesn't mean the front office out in San Francisco will give in, unless the return is significant. Khan and co. have yet to make an offer that cannot be refused.

It's an extremely complex situation because not only do the 49ers have to get a haul in return, but Aiyuk also needs to agree to sign wherever he is hypothetically traded to. Draft picks might not be enough in this situation, but a problem for the Steelers could be stubbornness. Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported on Wednesday that Pittsburgh has no plans to give San Francisco a player in a potential deal.

Dulac has been wrong before, just as most insiders, but if the true sticking point here is a player, it's possible nothing gets done anytime soon. San Francisco media echoed that on Wednesday evening. ESPN reporter Brookie Pryor joined the Papa & Lund Podcast to discuss compensation in this scenario. Radio host John Lund shot down the idea of the 49ers accepting a trade that doesn't involve a player in return.

"For a team in a Super Bowl window, that doesn't work for the 49ers. It's [going to be] really tough to come together on a place Aiyuk wants to go and a deal the 49ers are good with." Lund said. "This is a tough thing to do."

He has a point. Why would it make any sense for San Francisco to acquire draft capital in 2025 and potentially 2026 when the organization is fully in "win-now" mode. Bringing a new player to town in order to help with the end goal of a Super Bowl is much more attractive than a day two pick in 2026. It appears that the Steelers aren't willing to oblige to that potential request.

Lund also remarked that it's simply a deal-breaker if the Steelers and Khan don't want to pass along a player of significance. Big names such as Pat Freiermuth and Alex Highsmith have been thrown out there, but there likely isn't a world in which Pittsburgh would move on from either player. The same goes for third-year wide receiver George Pickens.

The overall drama surrounding this situation has been going on far too long. Fans of the two cities, and for that matter, the other 30 teams in the NFL, are ready for the Aiyuk saga to be over with. Both Khan and 49ers General Manager John Lynch seem content on letting it drag out as long as possible. Neither is willing to give in to when it comes to the negotiation, which presents a problem for everyone.

The Steelers have been the favorite to land Aiyuk for a while, but if Khan is simply not willing to give up a relevant player, everything could come crashing down. It's very possible that this deal never commences. It's a unique situation as San Francisco is not looking to rebuild with draft picks, but rather, win a Super Bowl as soon as the 2024 season.

Steelers Rolling The Dice With Wide Receivers' Room Without Aiyuk

There are some quality veterans that Pittsburgh has ready to contribute at the wide receiver position. The biggest challenge is that none are solidified number two options. Pickens will be double-teamed constantly if the depth chart remains how it is heading into the team's first preseason contest on Friday. Khan, however, has shown that he will not cave when the pressure is on. It should be a fascinating rest of the week.

Do you think the Steelers should give the 49ers a player in any deal for Aiyuk? Let us know in the comments below!

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