NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport revealed on Tuesday afternoon that the San Francisco 49ers “have a deal on a potential trade” to send wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk to the Pittsburgh Steelers, in part because the Steelers are “in a good place” as it pertains to signing Aiyuk to the type of contract extension he has wanted for months.
Dianna Russini of The Athletic explained during the latest edition of the “Scoop City” podcast, posted prior to Rapoport’s reporting, that the Aiyuk saga could feature one last twist before all is said and done.
“There are a lot of different reasons for the holdup,” Russini said about Aiyuk’s uncertain future, per Grant Cohn of Sports Illustrated. “Let’s start with the player. From what I was told, the player hasn’t really been easy to work with in terms of what he wants. He seems to be a little all over the place.”
Specifically, it was reported last week that individuals within the New England Patriots believed Aiyuk’s “preference” was to end up with Pittsburgh. That claim was shared before NFL analyst Herm Edwards, who is close with Aiyuk and 49ers general manager John Lynch, hinted that the 26-year-old and San Francisco still wanted to come to terms on an agreement that would keep the receiver with his current club.
ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter then said on Monday that Aiyuk would “like to stay in San Francisco” but also “wants to get paid.” While Rapoport tweeted on Tuesday afternoon that the 49ers had “an offer out to Aiyuk on a long-term deal for him to stay,” Rapoport added that Aiyuk hadn’t yet accepted that contract.
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported on Monday that the Steelers’ contract offer to Aiyuk “was around $28 million per year.” Breer previously suggested that San Francisco could essentially use Pittsburgh to set Aiyuk’s market regarding an extension, but Rapoport’s update indicated that Aiyuk’s camp remained dissatisfied with what it had heard from 49ers general manager John Lynch.
“If (San Francisco) gives the final sign-off, it’s done,” Rapoport wrote about the 49ers trading Aiyuk to the Steelers.
It sounds like that sign-off hadn’t occurred as of Tuesday afternoon because the 49ers and Aiyuk still had hope that they could work something out sooner rather than later.