The Pros And Cons Of Acquiring Brandon Aiyuk
Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
The 2024 offseason has been headlined by an explosion of the wide receiver market. Some players like Justin Jefferson and Amon-Ra St. Brown have received nine-figure contract extensions. Other players like Tee Higgins have found themselves unable to get their own long-term contract extensions. Another receiver, who has been a rumored target of the Pittsburgh Steelers all offseason, sent potential trade rumors into overdrive by saying on video that his team doesn’t want him back.
Let the speculation begin…
Brandon Aiyuk’s post on TikTok, which is captioned: “I’m laughing but I’m crying fr”
Jayden Daniels: “What happened bro”
BA: “They said they don’t want me back… I swear”
H/T: @jpet82 pic.twitter.com/sSROK9o2Rx
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) June 17, 2024
Brandon Aiyuk, who was named a Second Team All-Pro last season, had a career-high 1,342 receiving yards in 2023. Despite the stellar season, the San Francisco 49ers have not given him the payday that other teams have given their star receivers. Could Pittsburgh swoop in and make a move? What would be the benefits and drawbacks of trading for Aiyuk?
It Would Re-Complete The Receiver Corps
After shipping off Diontae Johnson to Carolina, Pittsburgh find themselves in a hole at receiver. An offense that was tied for the fifth-fewest passing yards in 2023 could barely stand to lose targets as is. With Johnson no longer in the mix, the current number two receiver on the depth chart is Van Jefferson, who had 209 yards in all of 2023 with the Rams and Falcons. The third wide receiver is rookie Roman Wilson.
Aiyuk was one of the NFL’s best receivers in intermediate routes in 2023, as he was PFF’s highest-graded player in out routes (96.0) and post routes (97.5). Adding in Aiyuk would immediately not only be an apt replacement for Johnson, but a significant upgrade over their next-best options. This acquisition would also allow George Pickens, Wilson, and Calvin Austin III to be even bigger downfield threats.
It Would Set Russell Wilson Up For Success
The Steelers’ offense has lacked explosion since the days of Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, and Le’Veon Bell. After two years of pedestrian offense under the guise of Kenny Pickett, the Steelers have turned to Russell Wilson.
Wilson was lackluster in his two seasons as the Broncos’ starting quarterback. In 2023, he threw for a career-low 3,070 passing yards; however, he quietly had an impressive 28-8 TD-to-INT ratio. Much of this was due to an unimpressive surrounding cast of receivers, and as it stands right now, the Steelers don’t have many proven talents at receiver outside of Pickens. Adding Aiyuk would provide instant star potential to the Steelers’ offense, and it would make Wilson’s life in Pittsburgh much easier.
However, nobody said prying a star receiver away from a Super Bowl contender would be easy.
It Would Be Extremely Costly
There truly aren’t a lot of drawbacks to trading for Aiyuk, but by far the biggest one is what it would cost. This is both in terms of what they’d have to pay the 49ers to acquire him, as well as the money to have Aiyuk on the roster. Aiyuk is at the peak of his powers and is coming off his best season. Some have speculated that it would take as high as a first-round pick to make the move; however, others believe Aiyuk’s dissatisfaction with the 49ers gives the Steelers added leverage.
“I think for the Steelers, I think they’re interested, but I think they’re interested at their price,” Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said. “I think what Omar Khan is gonna do is he’s gonna wait until it gets really uncomfortable for John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan. And if you’ve noticed, Aiyuk is kind of starting to make it uncomfortable for the 49ers. So, I think deadlines always spur these deals, right? As the season gets closer, I think the 49ers might have a little bit more urgency in moving him.”
In terms of his contract, Aiyuk hits unrestricted free agency in 2025. The 49ers exercised Aiyuk’s fifth-year option, meaning he’s slated to make just over $14 million in 2024. After this season, however, his market value is projected to be an astronomical $26.5 million, which is comparable to some of the NFL’s best receivers like AJ Brown and Michael Pittman. And after this offseason, that number could get higher.
It Could Affect Pickens’ Status (and Happiness)
Last season, Pickens established himself as the bonafide No. 1 receiver in the Steelers’ offense. He led the Steelers with 63 receptions, 1,190 yards, and five touchdowns. However, Pickens’ belief in himself does not stop there. “The stuff that I do, bro, I feel like I’m the best in the whole world,” Pickens told The Ringer. “I’m big, I’m fast, low 4.4 [speed]. Catch radius is crazy. So every time I get out on the field, I do kind of play angry because I should get the ball on every play if you just look at the size and the frame. If I was a coach, I’d just throw to [me] every time.”
Pickens currently has a stranglehold on the No. 1 position in Pittsburgh by a wide margin. In a time where receivers like Pickens are getting unprecedented contracts (much like Aiyuk will), he’d have an open path to a contract akin to those deals, should his production remain similar to what it was in 2023. While the acquisition of Aiyuk would give the Steelers a dynamic wide receiver duo, it could, in a doomsday scenario, cause Pickens to be dissatisfied with his role as a No. 2 in Pittsburgh’s offense.
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