Steelers potential blockbuster trade target names his price in latest report from NFL insider
As the time from the NFL Draft has grown, trade talks among the Pittsburgh Steelers and teams with contact-needy WRs have done the opposite. The Steelers wrapped up their first week of OTAs on Thursday, and there is growing belief that rookie pass catcher Roman Wilson will be a viable option at the WR #2 […]
As the time from the NFL Draft has grown, trade talks among the Pittsburgh Steelers and teams with contact-needy WRs have done the opposite.
The Steelers wrapped up their first week of OTAs on Thursday, and there is growing belief that rookie pass catcher Roman Wilson will be a viable option at the WR #2 role.
But with June 1st fast approaching and multiple big-name WRs yet to receive the deals they want, the trade rumors may start circulating again, with Brandon Aiyuk of the 49ers making his price clear:
Aiyuk's Asking Price Tops $28m APY
"San Francisco with Brandon Aiyuk, they have been talking, they have been negotiating," ESPN NFL Insider Jeremy Fowler explained on Friday's edition of NFL Live. "Nothing imminent as of yet, but there's certainly a chance. I was told the benchmark here is [Detroit Lions wide receiver] Amon-Ra St. Brown because he got $28 million [per] year on a four-year deal from Detroit. The goal as it appears is for Aiyuk to try to beat that. He doesn't need to be the highest paid in the league, but he's done enough and accomplished enough in that offense where he's probably going to need to be at that number or higher."
Following the signing of his deal, Detroit Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown now has the second-highest-valued WR contract in the league. A great player, I'm not sure many with an unbiased take on the NFL would view St. Brown as the league's second-best WR, or even in the top five for that matter.
That being said, if you just compare the stats from their 2023 season, there is a clear winner between Aiyuk and St. Brown
Now, Aiyuk played in an offense where he was often the second, third, or even fourth fiddle to Pro Bowlers like Deebo Samuel, Christian McCaffrey, and George Kittle.
But the point being, is that if St. Brown isn't in the same ilk as players like Tyreek Hill, Justin Jefferson, and Ja'Marr Chase, then Aiyuk certainly isn't if you go by the stat sheet.
I happen to believe in context, however, and would take Aiyuk over St. Brown given his positional alignment flexibility, route running, and downfield potential.
Problem is, the WR market suggests that fringe top 10 players are getting paid as if they are atop their position group, which St. Brown and Aiyuk simply aren't.
That's not to say Aiyuk isn't an excellent player and doesn't deserve a hefty extension, but if San Francisco thought he was worth close to $30m APY, he would have been signed a while ago.
So between the draft capital needed to acquire Aiyuk and the contract that would ensue thereafter, Pittsburgh would be better off sticking with their current WR corps and developing players like George Pickens and Roman Wilson, even if it comes at the cost of some big plays in 2024.
Steelers Week 1 OTAs Recap: T.J. Watt feeling the side effects of football, QB battle heats up, year two corners flash
Everything we learned from the Steelers first week of organized team activities.
