PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Steelers are getting closer and closer to signing San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. After months of rollercoaster riding until a decision was finally made, the Black and Gold seem to be firmly in the lead and getting closer to Aiyuk’s goal.
Over the past two days, it has been announced that it is “more likely” that Aiyuk will be traded than that he will sign a contract extension with the 49ers. Initially, the Cleveland Browns and the New England Patriots were considered clear trade candidates for Pittsburgh. But now the Steelers seem to have the edge.
According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, the Steelers are currently Aiyuk’s “preferred destination.”
“Some people said the Steelers were out. The Steelers were never out and they’re not out now,” Garafolo said. “When you put all that together, it sounds like that’s Aiyuk’s preferred destination out of all the teams we’ve talked about. So it may have to get to the point where the Steelers can sweeten the offer to trade with the 49ers and then we can get to the point where Aiyuk can make a deal with the Steelers and go there.”
Now it appears that the Patriots, who had been “aggressively” pursuing Aiyuk, are dropping out of the competition. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, New England has pulled its cards and is starting to move on.
Sources: After inquiring about Brandon Aiyuk’s availability, the Patriots have decided not to explore any further trade options with the 49ers for their outstanding wide receiver. The Patriots are excited about their young receivers and want to focus on them. pic.twitter.com/RglYQJBmAx
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) 7 August 2024
So it comes down to the Steelers vs. the Browns. Cleveland probably has more to offer than Pittsburgh, with Amari Cooper reportedly on the table in a trade package. Still, the final decision rests with Aiyuk on whether or not he will sign anywhere, and it seems he’s more likely to seek a contract extension in Pittsburgh than Cleveland.
The game isn’t over yet, but the Steelers have taken the lead. There’s no rush when it does, and that’s why it could take a while longer. But unless something drastic happens or another team shows up, Pittsburgh looks like the clear favorite to sign the wide receiver they’ve been chasing all season.
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