The Pittsburgh Steelers have re-entered negotiations for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network and confirmed by PennLive.
Aiyuk is keen on joining the Steelers, but the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots currently have stronger offers on the table. On Monday night, reports indicated that the Steelers were ‘out’ of trade discussions with the 49ers. However, this appeared to be a strategic move by the 49ers to increase the offer from the Steelers.
The Steelers are determined to secure Aiyuk to strengthen their offense, as the wide receiver position remains a significant gap in their lineup. Despite this, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has been reserved on the issue, expressing hope for a resolution.
“You’re always disappointed when you can’t keep all your players, or things aren’t going right. I don’t like losing anybody, so I hope it works out here,” Shanahan said.
Shanahan has not ruled out the possibility of re-signing Aiyuk, though meaningful discussions have not taken place in recent months.
“There’s a scenario for everything, so I wouldn’t rule anything out,” Shanahan added.
The 49ers are reportedly interested in acquiring a player to fit their Super Bowl window and have mentioned Steelers right guard James Daniels in discussions. They are also seeking multiple draft picks, including a first-round pick, for Aiyuk.
With leverage shifting between Aiyuk and the 49ers at various points, the negotiations may continue for some time, but the Steelers remain actively engaged in the pursuit of Aiyuk.
Leave a Reply