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Steelers Big WR Trade Could Come During NFL Draft
The Pittsburgh Steelers may have to wait before their next splash move.
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers may have some idea of when they'll have a try at San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. According to The Athletic's Matt Barrows, the belief is a deal could be made during the NFL Draft.
The Steelers have reportedly explored the idea of an Aiyuk trade and are being linked to a wide receiver transaction of some kind after the trade of Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers. Well, if it's going to be a move with the 49ers, they may have to make it on draft night.
"Yes, that’s my sense," Barrows writes. "Just go back two years to when Deebo Samuel was agitating for a trade. The 49ers kept their phone lines open before, and especially during, the draft to see what kind of offers Samuel would bring. They got draft-day proposals from the New York Jets and Detroit Lions, but the 49ers didn’t budge. They were solid offers (especially the Jets’) but the 49ers needed to be blown away to let go of Samuel, who was coming off his incredible 2021 campaign.
“I think a similar scenario is in play for Aiyuk, who has excellent chemistry with Brock Purdy: The 49ers will listen to offers but it will take something monumental to let him go."
Aiyuk is coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons but is entering the final year of his contract and set to make $14 million. He'd need an extension if traded for, which isn't a poor investment by any NFL team as Aiyuk is just 26-years-old.
As for trade compensation, the Steelers will likely need to give up a first-round pick and more after the Jacksonville Jaguars reportedly had to deal the 17th overall pick and wideout Zay Jones in exchange for Aiyuk.
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