Diana Russini, Matt Burrows, Mike DeFavo
The Pittsburgh Steelers are in trade talks with the San Francisco 49ers for receiver Brandon Aiyuk, but the two sides have not yet reached an agreement, a league source told The Athletic on Wednesday.
According to league sources, the 49ers are not satisfied with the Steelers’ offer so far and are hoping to acquire a receiver in exchange for Aiyuk as part of a trade.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed Tuesday that the team has given Aiyuk permission to negotiate a new contract with another team.
The Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots were the front-runners for the move last weekend, with the Pittsburgh Steelers again emerging as a possible destination, according to multiple reports, but the Patriots reportedly called off talks for Aiyuk, and Aiyuk is reportedly not interested in playing in New England.
Going deeper
49ers confirm trade authorization for Brandon Aiyuk
Until Tuesday, the 49ers had said they wanted to keep Aiyuk, who had a career-high 1,342 yards receiving last season, but also said they were open to inquiring about a possible trade. Aiyuk has been on “waiting list” status since the start of training camp, attending meetings since the offseason program began in the spring but has not yet participated in a practice.
The Steelers are clearly in need of a wide receiver addition after trading former Pro Bowler Dionta Johnson this offseason, and currently have George Pickens at the top of their depth list with a number of question marks behind him.
Coach Mike Tomlin was asked Wednesday if the Steelers were still interested in adding a receiver to bolster their team.
“I’ll let you all guess on that one,” he said with a smile.
Aiyuk said on The Pivot Podcast, hosted by former Steelers player Ryan Clark, in late June that Pittsburgh was one of his preferred destinations if he didn’t return to San Francisco, but the big question is whether Pittsburgh would be able to offer enough in return to make the deal happen.

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If the San Francisco 49ers are searching for a receiver to replace Aiyuk in this trade market and are looking for a player who can help their team win, they don’t have much to offer unless the Steelers draft Pickens, who is in the third year of his rookie contract and is just starting to show glimpses of his potential. Pickens and his rookie contract would fit nicely under the 49ers’ salary cap, but poaching him from the Steelers wouldn’t necessarily solve Pittsburgh’s problems at the position.
Behind Pickens, the two best receivers are Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III. Austin, a 5-foot-9 former college track star, may have the better chance. But Shanahan’s offense typically favors bigger, athletic receivers who can block well and are reliable up the middle. Austin doesn’t fit that mold.
Jefferson stands 6-foot-1 and ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash coming out of college, making him a bigger target, but he hasn’t come close to matching those numbers since his breakout sophomore year when he recorded 50 receptions, 802 yards and six touchdowns in 2021. He’s coming off a season with the Falcons and Rams in which he recorded 20 receptions for 209 yards.
As for other receiving threats, tight end Pat Friarmuth has the talent to add value to a hypothetical trade package. He’s in the fourth and final year of his rookie contract and is currently negotiating his own contract extension with Pittsburgh. Given how often new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith uses tight ends, he would also be an important player to have off the roster.
Beyond receiver, the Steelers have several linemen who could entice the 49ers, and Pittsburgh can always offer draft capital, but if the 49ers do want a receiver, it will be hard to replace Aiyuk’s production with the Steelers’ roster options.
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(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)