Rumored trade of 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk to Pittsburgh Steelers gets cold water dumped on it

If we know anything about this time of year in the NFL, it's that most of what you hear from coaches and GMs, needs to be taken with a grain of salt.  And after well-reported talks of a trade between the San Francisco 49ers and multiple teams interested in Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers GM John Lynch […]

Rob Gregson NFL News Writer
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Sep 10, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Patrick Peterson (20) and safety Keanu Neal (31) defend against San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) during the first half at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

If we know anything about this time of year in the NFL, it's that most of what you hear from coaches and GMs, needs to be taken with a grain of salt. 

And after well-reported talks of a trade between the San Francisco 49ers and multiple teams interested in Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers GM John Lynch addressed the development at this week's league owners' meetings. 

Only, he called B.S:

Lynch Calls out the Media

“I promise you, nothing’s going on there,” Lynch told reporters regarding the trade rumors surrounding Brandon Aiyuk. “We’re actually talking to Brandon to try and figure something out. You know, we have a good history of working with the guys that we want to get done to get something done. So, can we do that? We’ll see. There’s a number of different directions that could go. But we appreciate the heck out of Brandon and what he is as a player. We want him to be a part of the Niners, so we’re going to work towards making that a reality.”

Now, I'm not calling Lynch a liar, actually, he's probably right when you consider that a trade still hasn't come to fruition despite Aiyuk tweeting at the Steelers and Mike Tomlin last week. 

But if that wasn't enough, there was a report from Jaguars reporter Mia O’Brien, that said: 

The 49ers wanted Jacksonville's first-round pick in this year's draft, (17th overall) and wide receiver Zay Jones in exchange for Aiyuk. 

Not to mention, Aiyuk continues to throw subtle shots at San Francisco via social media, even posting a direct shot at Lynch shortly after his aforementioned comments:

In case you need emoji translation, Aiyuk was saying, "Money talks, S*** walks."

So I don't know about you, but that doesn't exactly sound like two sides who are perfectly aligned and who never once thought about a trade. 

I know what Lynch said and I'm aware that an Aiyuk extension in San Francisco is the most likely scenario, especially given the reported asking price

But I wouldn't close the door just yet in Pittsburgh, or any other WR-needy destination for that matter.