The Brandon Aiyuk trade rumors are heating back up again. After San Francisco insisted that they didn't want to trade their star receiver, Aiyuk reportedly unfollowed the 49ers on Instagram. The Pittsburgh Steelers have been at the center of trade talks for Aiyuk despite Mike Tomlin stating there have been no trade discussions on their end.
Now another rumor has surfaced that the Steelers are attempting to trade for the talented wide receiver and that Aiyuk has officially requested a trade from the 49ers. It's time for all of this to end.
Steelers need to focus on the NFL Draft
There's no doubt that the Pittsburgh Steelers have a glaring need at wide receiver and that Brandon Aiyuk would offer a boost on offense. But right now, the focus needs to be on the 2024 NFL Draft.
After raking in an impressive haul in Omar Khan's first year as general manager in 2023, the Steelers have a chance to build the foundation of their roster with back-to-back stellar draft classes. Unfortunately, the Brandon Aiyuk discussions are taking away from what should be the team's primary focus.
Aiyuk is already an established player, but the stomaching the blow of trading elite draft capital and turning around to make him one of the highest-paid non-quarterbacks in the NFL is too rich of an investment for a team now within striking distance of Super Bowl contention.
If Khan is as good at evaluating talent as many of us believe he is, the Steelers should bet on themselves to make the right decisions early in the NFL Draft. Hitting on a first-round pick would give the Steelers five years of a controlled contract at a discount price.
This is also an excellent wide receiver class. The Steelers wouldn't be getting a player as good as Aiyuk, but they also can hang onto their top draft capital and add a receiver on Day 2 on a four-year rookie contract for a fraction of the price.
On top of all of this, there's no incentive for Pittsburgh to rush to make a trade with the 49ers before the NFL Draft. Khan and the front office need to see how the board lays out during the draft. The Steelers may be able to land a receiver (or maybe two) where the value lines up beautifully for them when they are on the clock.
I'm all for trades and finding ways to improve, but these Brandon Aiyuk trade rumors with the Pittsburgh Steelers need to be put to bed once and for all. A trade doesn't make enough sense for Khan to pull the trigger considering how much they would have to give up.
The Steelers need to trust the process. If Omar Khan and Andy Weidl are the right guys in the front office, they will be able to build the foundation of the team through the NFL Draft without being forced to make win-now moves that could jeopardize their financial state and draft capital for the future.