The Pittsburgh Steelers have a big need to fill at wide receiver.
The team traded Dionte Johnson to the Carolina Panthers, and with Russell Wilson now confirmed as the team’s starting quarterback in 2024, it will be vital to surround him with as many weapons as possible to set the offense up for success.
While the Steelers have signed Van Jefferson and Quez Watkins since dealing away Johnson, the two wideouts combined for only 351 receiving yards in 2023.
Aside from George Pickens, the Pittsburgh Steelers do not have a wide receiver contracted for 2024 who had more than 209 receiving yards last season.
There were rumors that Pittsburgh’s brass was in talks to perhaps sign Bengals free agent Tyler Boyd, but current reports indicate that talks between the two sides broke down.
Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report selected Pittsburgh as one of six clubs who should make an intriguing trade offer to the San Francisco 49ers for wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
Davenport advocated that the Steelers trade their 2024 first and third-round picks to the 49ers for the 2023 second-team All-Pro wideout.
“Aiyuk is a better and more proven option than anyone who will be on the board when pick No. 20 rolls around,” Davenport said in a statement. “He and George Pickens would make a strong tandem at the position.
“For this hypothetical exercise, offering the 20th overall choice would be the best offer the 49ers had received. Throw in a late third (for a Day 3 selection in return), and Niners general manager John Lynch will have to seriously examine the offer.”
Aiyuk would give depth to the Pittsburgh Steelers, which has been lacking.
In 2023, the 49ers star posted career highs with 1,342 receiving yards and 17.9 yards per reception. He also has 75 receptions and seven touchdowns.
However, acquiring Aiyuk would be more than just costly in terms of draft capital. Spotrac estimated Aiyuk’s deal value at $96.1 million over four years. Such a deal would pay the 26-year-old receiver an average annual salary of more than $24 million.
On April 2, Pro Football Focus’ Brad Spielberger stated that even with Jefferson and Watkins, the Steelers lack a starter receiver opposite Pickens, as well as a No. 3 wideout.
With Aiyuk, the Steelers would acquire one of the best receivers available this offseason. As Davenport pointed out, Aiyuk and Pickens would be a formidable combination.
While Brandon Aiyuk averaged 17.9 yards per reception, Pickens led the NFL with 18.1 yards per catch in 2023.
Aiyuk would take the Steelers’ receiver room from one of the weakest in the NFL to one of the finest. But it would come at a high cost.
In addition to needing a starting receiver, the Steelers do not currently have a center on their roster. The squad might require upgrades at offensive line and cornerback.
If the Pittsburgh Steelers trade their first and third-round picks for Aiyuk, they will have a far more difficult time drafting impact players to address their other needs. General manager Omar Khan is also unlikely to select either Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson or Duke’s Graham Barton. Pundits widely regard those two prospects as the finest centers available in the 2024 class.
Khan might focus his attention on West Virginia center Zach Frazier. However, Frazier may not be on the Steelers’ draft board when they choose in the second round at No. 51 overall.
The Steelers’ lack of immediate potential starting center options in the draft, along with the small center market in free agency, makes it difficult to picture them trading two top picks for Aiyuk, but they will need to find another dynamic starting-caliber WR if they want to prosper offensively.
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