According to ESPN reporter Diana Russini, the Pittsburgh Steelers have the Denver Broncos to thank for Pittsburgh not trading for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
Russini is reporting that the Niners were ready to trade Aiyuk to the Steelers but they wanted a wide receiver to replace him. They offered a third-round pick to Denver for Courtland Sutton but the Broncos declined. This was the nudge the Niners needed to get a contract extension done.
Now the Steelers are left in the lurch, short a wide receiver and less than two weeks to the start of the regular season.
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.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) August 29, 2024
Sutton was a guy speculated to be on the Steelers’ trade radar in the midst of all the Aiyuk drama. If the Broncos aren’t interested in making a deal and Aiyuk is locked up in San Francisco, Pittsburgh must turn their attention elsewhere for help at wide receiver this season.
