It’s training camp week for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers have gone to great lengths to improve all three phases to stay competitive in a deep and talented AFC North.
But even with all the changes the team has made there is always work to be done. Pro Football Focus offered up one move every NFL team should make before the start of training camp. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, the move they recommend is to trade for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
Here is what they had to say about the Steelers and the potential trade:
The Steelers’ offense underwent some major changes in the offseason. The front office brought in Russell Wilson and Justin Fields to compete for the starting quarterback job, added three new faces to the offensive line and traded away Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers. George Pickens is now expected to be the leading receiver, but the Steelers are thin overall at the position.
Brandon Aiyuk’s contract situation is looming large in San Francisco. The former first-round pick will play out 2024 on his fifth-year option and is due to be a free agent at the end of the season. While the 49ers would like to have him back, we’ve yet to see a long-term deal play out. And when it does, it’ll likely be for big money — money the 49ers may not be able to afford. That could open the door for a receiver-needy team like the Steelers to make a move.
There’s no denying how badly the Steelers need to add another wide receiver. Aiyuk would be a perfect player to pair up with George Pickens but the cost is too high, I fear.
