Steelers Narrowly Miss Out On Making Mega Three-Team Trade

The Pittsburgh Steelers nearly landed San Francisco 49ers All-Pro wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.

The Steelers were the frontrunners to land Aiyuk after the receiver didn’t sign a new extension. San Francisco wanted draft compensation and a wide receiver to replace Aiyuk in any deal. The Steelers couldn’t match those terms so the teams looked for a third team to join the trade. The 49ers eyed Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton.

San Francisco offered Denver a third-round pick for Sutton. If the Broncos had accepted, the 49ers would have dealt Brandon Aiyuk to the Steelers according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.

“The 49ers only were willing to trade Brandon Aiyuk if they could get a top-flight WR to replace him. They offered a third-round pick to Denver for Courtland Sutton, and then would’ve dealt Aiyuk to the Steelers, but the Broncos declined the offer. So, he stays in SF,” Russini wrote on X.

This scenario would have seen the Steelers dealing a second and third-round pick to the 49ers in exchange for Aiyuk. San Francisco would have traded the third-round pick to Denver for Courtland Sutton. With the Broncos rejecting that deal, the 49ers instead were able to come to terms with Aiyuk on a massive 4-year, $120 million extension.

Pittsburgh will likely look for alternative receiver options now that they missed out on Aiyuk, including Sutton potentially. If the Steelers don’t add anyone, they will begin the season with George Pickens and Van Jefferson as their top two receivers as they take on the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1.

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