Steelers should sell the farm in trade for talented wide receiver

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been linked to rumors of trading for another wide receiver since before the draft. While Steelers fans wait out the rumors, the fact of the matter is the Steelers need to be ultra-aggressive in their pursuits.

Brandon Aiyuk, the San Francisco 49ers wideout most often tied to Pittsburgh this offseason, recently said he sees himself playing in a Steelers uniform unless he stays in San Fran or is shipped to the Commanders. That doesn't exactly paint Pittsburgh as a favorite in landing the talented receiver who ripped off eight catches for 129 yards and two touchdowns against the Steelers in Week 1 of the 2023 season.

Sure, the Steelers have some young, exciting talent on the offense, but sitting back and allowing Washington to snipe Aiyuk or San Francisco to stand firm would be a questionable decision.

Steelers GM Omar Khan is no stranger to dealing wide receivers, and in the minds of Steelers fans, he's come away as a winner in most of his trades. But sometimes you have to take one on the chin to make a drastic improvement on the roster. As they say, you can't win them all.

Why Steelers should trade for Brandon Aiyuk

If Khan can justify sending Chase Claypool to the Chicago Bears for a second-round pick, he has to be willing to spend considerable capital to land Aiyuk. There has to be some give and take if he's to continue pulling off trades like that.

Steelers fans may not like it, but the 49ers need to be blown away by an offer to move Aiyuk. They've expressed several times they don't want to trade him. So, making them trade him is the only option.

Whether that means a second-round pick and more or even selling a first-round pick, the Steelers need to pull the trigger and make it happen. The Steelers seemingly never sell the farm for one player, but in this case, it's truly in the best interest of the future of the franchise.

George Pickens is an electric talent, but there is no proof that he's ready to be the No. 1 receiver without a strong No. 2. And if Aiyuk joining the roster makes Pickens a No. 2, so be it. That's a separate debate. The point is, promising talent is fun, proven talent is a commodity.

Quarterback Russell Wilson needs reliable targets to lean on if he's going to turn this offense around. Right now, he's surrounded by a lot of potential. Bringing in Aiyuk gives him an option that is proven to be reliable, instantly boosting the productivity of the offense.

Steelers fans won't like it, but I can promise the fanbase will be happier with Aiyuk helping the offense than watching more mediocrity on that side of the ball.