Wide receiver is a position that the Pittsburgh Steelers need to fill with urgency.
With Russell Wilson confirmed as the team’s starting quarterback through 2024 after the trade of Dionte Johnson to the Carolina Panthers, it will be imperative to surround him with as many weapons as possible to set up the offense for success.
After trading for Johnson, the Steelers acquired Van Jefferson and Quez Watkins; however, in 2023, the two wide receivers combined for just 351 receiving yards.
The Pittsburgh Steelers do not have a wide receiver signed to their 2024 roster who had more than 209 receiving yards in the previous season, aside from George Pickens.
There were rumors that the Pittsburgh executives were in negotiations to sign free agent Tyler Boyd of the Bengals, but more recent reports claimed that the talks had broken down.
WR Brandon Aiyuk of the 49ers is acquired by the Pittsburgh Steelers through a trade proposal.
Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report identified six teams, including Pittsburgh, that ought to tempt the San Francisco 49ers with a trade offer for wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
Davenport suggested that in exchange for the 2023 second-team All-Pro wideout, the 49ers receive the Steelers’ first and third round picks in 2024.
“Aiyuk is a better and more proven option than anyone who will be on the board when pick No. 20 rolls around,” Davenport wrote. “He and George Pickens would be a formidable duo at the position.
“Where this hypothetical exercise is concerned at least, offering that 20th overall pick would be the best offer the 49ers have received. Throw in a late third (for a Day 3 pick in return), and it’s an offer Niners general manager John Lynch would have to give some serious consideration to.”
Aiyuk would give the Pittsburgh Steelers a depth that they haven’t had before.
In 2023, the 49ers standout recorded career highs of 1,342 receiving yards and 17.9 yards per catch. In addition, he had 7 touchdowns and 75 catches.
But, acquiring Aiyuk would be expensive in terms of draft capital as well. Spotrac estimated Aiyuk’s value at $96.1 million for a four-year deal. The 26-year-old receiver would receive an average yearly salary of more than $24 million under such a contract.
Brandon Aiyuk: Why Would The Pittsburgh Steelers Trade For Him?
On April 2, Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus argued that the Steelers lack a No. 3 wideout in addition to not having a starting receiver to complement Pickens despite having Jefferson and Watkins.
But the Steelers would have one of the best wide receivers available this offseason in Aiyuk. Davenport pointed out that Pickens and Aiyuk would make a formidable team.
Pickens led the NFL in 2023 with 18.1 yards per catch, while Brandon Aiyuk averaged 17.9 yards per reception.
The Steelers’ receiving room would go from being among the worst in the NFL to possibly one of the best thanks to Aiyuk. But the price would be high.
The Steelers not only lack a center on the roster but also need a starting receiver. Additionally, the team could use improvements at cornerback and offensive tackle.
The Pittsburgh Steelers will find it much more difficult to select impact players at their other needs if they trade Aiyuk for their first and third-round picks. Additionally, general manager Omar Khan would probably give up on choosing either Graham Barton from Duke or Jackson Powers-Johnson of Oregon. Those two prospects are regarded by many analysts as the best centers available in the 2024 class.
Khan might focus on Zach Frazier, the center for West Virginia. However, Frazier might not be available when the Steelers make their second-round selection at No. 51 overall.
It’s a little difficult to imagine the Steelers trading two first-round picks for Aiyuk given the dearth of viable starting center options in the draft and the thin free-agent market, but if they hope to succeed offensively, they’ll need to find another dynamic wide receiver.