The Pittsburgh Steelers could finally get another opportunity to acquire Brandon Aiyuk, and this time, the former San Francisco 49ers star might come at a significant discount.
According to ESPN's Nick Wagoner, Aiyuk has applied for reinstatement and intends to report to San Francisco's facility on Friday. The development could accelerate his departure from the franchise after a prolonged dispute that has kept him off the field.
Pittsburgh spent much of the 2024 offseason pursuing a blockbuster trade for Aiyuk before he ultimately remained with the 49ers. Two years later, general manager Omar Khan could have another chance to acquire the talented receiver without paying anything close to his previous asking price.
Pittsburgh Steelers could revisit Brandon Aiyuk trade without sacrificing premium assets
Aiyuk's situation has deteriorated dramatically since Pittsburgh nearly acquired him. The 28-year-old receiver, whom San Francisco selected with the No. 25 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, hasn't played since October 2024, when he suffered a significant knee injury against Kansas City.
His relationship with San Francisco subsequently collapsed, and the organization placed him on the reserve/left squad list. NFL.com's Kevin Patra detailed his reinstatement request, leaving the 49ers to decide his future.
San Francisco can retain Aiyuk, release him, or explore a trade before the November 10 deadline. Given the organization's earlier indications that their relationship is finished, a departure appears increasingly likely.
The Steelers previously faced the possibility of surrendering valuable draft capital to acquire Aiyuk. As Still Curtain previously explained, that investment would've carried considerable risk.
Those circumstances have changed.
Pittsburgh already has DK Metcalf and Germie Bernard atop its receiving corps, meaning Aiyuk wouldn't need to be the unquestioned centerpiece of the passing attack. His route-running ability and effectiveness working across the middle could complement their more physical receiving options.
But Khan shouldn't mistake a discounted acquisition cost for a guaranteed bargain.
Aiyuk hasn't played meaningful football in over two years, and his medical outlook remains a legitimate concern. The fractured relationship in San Francisco also deserves scrutiny before Pittsburgh considers bringing him into Mike McCarthy's locker room.
The Steelers have already benefited from avoiding Aiyuk when his value was considerably higher. Reversing course only makes sense if the financial commitment and acquisition cost reflect everything that's happened since.
Khan shouldn't surrender premium draft capital or absorb an unfavorable contract just because Aiyuk was once a prized target.
If San Francisco releases him, however, Pittsburgh could explore a lower-risk agreement without sacrificing draft picks. That's a much more appealing proposition than the blockbuster deal Steelers fans spent months anticipating in 2024.
The November 10 deadline should provide the next meaningful indication of whether Aiyuk becomes available through a trade or outright release. Pittsburgh can afford to monitor the situation without chasing the price it refused to pay two years ago.
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