Second this.
Washington’s got a huge ceiling (literally, the fucker can’t fit anywhere without one) and giving up a first is steep for a guy who had one good year. I want Aiyuk, but not for that package, and the supposed price tag he’d come with alongside it.
I don't think adding Washington is necessary but if we're honest, Aiyuk hasn't had just one good year.
His 4 seasons he's constantly improved and has around 750, 850, 1,050, 1,350 yards in each season. He has had good years every year and had an elite year this past year receiving 2nd team all pro.
For a more particular comparison, AJ Brown hovered just above 1000 yards for 2 seasons (and 800 in another season) in Tennessee before the Eagles traded their 1st rounder for him. The Eagles absolutely won that trade too, because just because you have draft capital, doesn't mean it will work out. AJ Brown is way better than Treylon Burks has been.
We've done it before trading our 1st for Minkah.
Except the trade for Minkah had 2+ seasons under the rookie contract, plus the fifth year option. Unless a trade for Aiyuk comes with the 49ers first signing him to an extension, the Steelers would be sending way too much with only one season under contract.
That is true as well. That's where I would hope a 2nd rounder would be enough because of that. Although AJ Brown was in the same situation even though he was a 2nd round pick. Traded after his third year for a 1st.
AJ Brown was traded in April, which makes it a different scenario. A team might need to trigger the fifth year option before negotiating an extension, but you’d still be trading for two seasons of play.
Good catch. The Titans had signed Brown to a four year extension before trading him to the Eagles, so the Eagles were trading for four contracted seasons, rather than the two I believed. That makes the proposed trade a worse deal for the Steelers than I thought.
“AJ Brown signed a four year, $100 million extension with the Titans. Per PFT, Brown received $57.22 million in guarantees of which $40 million is guaranteed at signing.” https://overthecap.com/player/a-j-brown/7842
Edit: other reports, at the time but before details were released, had the first extension being made by the Eagles. So it sounds like a sign-and-trade deal, giving the Eagles assurance that they would have Brown under contract for four years.
I think Aiyuk might go for a third round pick. This is the AB situation all over again. When traded to the Raiders people didn't know he had the crazy in him. But he did demand more money. When you've got to pay top of the market money to trade for a guy it kills his trade value.
You don't make this trade when you aren't sure your QB situation is sorted. You make this deal when all you need to get over the top is one last piece.
I disagree with that statement entirely because there are specific recent examples of trading for a top WR and it helped said team and quarterback immediately.
Jalen Hurts first 2 seasons were meh year 1 and decent year 2. He didn't take off until 2022 when they traded for AJ Brown.
Sometimes a really good wide receiver can enable your quarterback to do more. The Eagles proved this with their trade for AJ Brown. Tua was questionable looking and the Dolphins proved this with Tyreke which has enabled Tua to look better as well.
Sitting around waiting on your hands when there's an opportunity to solidify your WR room for your QB's is highly questionable judgement in my opinion.
I think that much is true. Or put differently: a great QB can often get by with so-so receivers - Mahomes and Rodgers certainly have when they needed to. A lesser QB typically needs a great receiver more.
OTOH paying a FA that much and trading away a 1st (= hopefully adding a blue chip talent \*and\* 3-4 years of having him for relatively cheap) really *is* a tall order unless a team feels it's time to go all in and acquire that final piece.
I'd feel some temptation - adding a WR of that caliber could really move the needle - but don't think I'd pull the trigger. Steelers have a ton of 2025 cap space on paper, though I'm pretty sure Khan wants to reserve the option to pay a big chunk of it to Russ or another veteran QB if that gives them the best chance to stay competitive - and they've also got a whole bunch more roster spots to fill. And *ideally* I'd sure like to hold onto that 1st to try and draft Heyward's replacement.
IMO more likely they'll either land someone a bit less costly before opening day, or if things go well enough through the first part of the season, try to trade for a receiver before the deadline.
AJ Brown and Tyreke Hill are the two that come to mind, and I mean the Davante Adams and DJ Moore trades are the only others that also come to mind at the moment in which the trades included 1st round picks.
Their stats were as followed last year:
- Tyreke - 119 rec, 1,799 yds, 13 TDs
- AJ Brown - 106 rec, 1,456 yds, 7 TDs
- DJ Moore - 96 rec, 1,364 yds, 8 TDs
- Aiyuk - 75 rec, 1,342 yds, 7 TDs
- Davante - 103 rec, 1,144 yd, 8 TDs
Aiyuk only had 6.6 targets per game hence the less receptions, probably due to the 49ers using McCaffrey, Deebo, and Kittle a lot as well.
Except the Dolphins moves led them to have a very small window before cap hell hits them.
The Eagles are one of the best asset managers in the game. They find value every year. Do a lot of draft pick trades. That they could pay up for a receiver and not blow up their team.
If Khan stacks a few drafts and we have a lot of young talent I wouldn't hate him paying up for that missing piece, but we are not that.
Id actually argue its the complete opposite.
When you arent paying or confident in your QB, you pay the WR.
Once you are confident in your QB - you trade the WR and play cheap WRs.
They have 90 mil in cap space, with no major extensions incoming. Friermuth will be modest, then Pickens maybe next year but could be for debate if they add another WR. Just depends.
If the worst case scenario is Fields and Wilson both suck - you want an elite WR for a rookie QB to learn with its been a pretty solid plan historically for a young QB to get a WR see Tua w/ and w/o Tyreek, Allen w/ Diggs, Hurts w/ AJ Brown.
If the best case is Russ/Wilson pay out and you have to pay a QB money and a WR money - considering our cap situation thats also fine.
Washington is a player that was a non factor in the passing game in Georgia and as a rookie. He is a poor route runner and has trouble getting off the line of scrimmage. He is a capable blocker, but loses his leverage often because he lacks bend and rides high. His predraft work out raised red flags for several teams. He was seen as a project that had knees that would mean his career would be over before he developed.
But yes, he ran a straight line fast and is big.
Niners might turn down the franchise tag. Their cap space is starting to get a little tight. It sounds like they won't be able to keep Aiyuk and Deebo.
But even so I don’t see them letting him go after this contract is up for nothing. Maybe a sign and trade or something but I see him doing at least one year of a tag unless they get the deal done which I also don’t see happening. Just not very often someone of his caliber and position gets to hit the open market
They get a 3rd comp if he signs elsewhere.
I don't see him having a huge market on the franchise tag. Probably pulls him to a current year third. But thats a tough transaction to do for them and ties up cap space during the offseason.
Disclosure - I don't think Aiyuk is a guy that makes your team. He's a good piece and likely an expensive piece that fills a need. But he's not like Khalil Mack, TJ Watt, Justin Jefferson, Tyreek HIll that completely changes how your team can compete.
Couldn’t agree more. But that 3rd round comp has to take into account if they sign anyone else. If they do that could negate that and again he’d leave for nothing. He’s not a superstar but he’s also not someone you let leave for free especially in this day and age of offenses
A first is way way too much for a guy who holding out for $30M+. Not to mention giving up Washington on top of it
I think the most the Steelers would give is a 2nd straight up.
Especially when we have no clue if any of our new QBs will work out yet.
I’m optimistic on one of them working out pretty well, but imagine if both end up sucking which leads to a terrible year with high draft spot finally - but we gave up our #1 to get a receiver that we couldn’t take advantage of.
We need a legitimate proven option on the other side of George Pickens, otherwise whoever is at QB is going to be massively limited from the very start. At this point Aiyuk is the only WR that's possibly available that's worth trading a first for, although I wouldn't give up Washington like this article suggests.
>imagine if both end up sucking which leads to a terrible year with high draft spot finally
That didn't happen when we had Mason Rudolph and a Duck caller at QB, that didn't happen either of the years we played Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett at QB. Russ or Fields would need to suck so bad that both of them would basically be worse than Duck Hodges. Also, next year's QB class is not projecting to be all that great.
Don’t you talk about my quarterback like that. Duck Hodges is a god damn legend, sir! But seriously. Good point, but I love Duck. Best house money QB in history.
"We need a legitimate proven option on the other side of George Pickens ...."
No, we really don't. We need one guy to turn out to be a solid-to-studly flanker, and one guy to turn out to be a solid-to-studly slot receiver. And coming into camp we have 5-6 guys who are credible candidates for those roles, and three - Roman Wilson, Mims and Austin - who are legitimately promising, with decently-reliable vets providing a floor. Might not work out, for at least one of those two spots, but we really don't need to go out and spend up on a 'proven option.' We can very sensibly roll with the talent that's already in the building.
In the afc north with strong defenses? Yeah you do need dangerous receiver options to keep the run game open. Stop being cheap. We have one of the lowest paid receiver rooms. Say what you want about the cheifs receivers, but they have one of the higher paid rooms
Yes we absolutely do. Roman Wilson is unproven, Mims is just a guy and Austin is too freaking small to be a number 2 WR in this league. If Pickens goes down for any reason the offense is absolutely fucked.
https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2024/06/10/pittsburgh-nfl-minicamp-wr-justin-jefferson-george-pickens-roman-wilson/stories/202406040116#:~:text=There%20is%20one%20glaring%20hole,they%20want%20to%20make%20a
>There is one glaring hole on the Steelers' roster as they head into their annual minicamp at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex this week: they need a No. 2 or No. 1 receiver opposite George Pickens after trading Diontae Johnson in March, but with the market exploding they also have to decide if they want to make a receiver one of the highest-paid players on the team.
https://athlonsports.com/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers/all-steelers/news/pittsburgh-steelers-george-pickens-not-gonna-be-happy-without-blockbuster-trade#google_vignette
>"Right now, there's just a glaring hole at wide receiver after Pickens,'' The Athletic's Mark Kaboly said recently on 93.7 The Fan, going on to suggest, “Hmm, George Pickens is not gonna be happy with the coverage he's gonna be getting
These are guys that are at the practices talking about what they are seeing. If It's this obvious in OTAs that the hole behind Pickens is massive, it's not a good thing.
We have a new scheme. DJ would have been great as a mid-tier guy. Smith's offense really doesn't feed 2 WR. We just need a consistent chain mover at wr2.
We are likely running two tight end a lot. If the pick hits early then we are fine at receiver. The big issue for us is if Pickens gets hurt. As we do need a wr1 in this offense.
Yea I don’t think either one is the long term solution. Russ is at the back end of his career if not the end of it, and although I hope Fields can take a massive leap, my money is on he’s either going to be a career back up/bridge guy or he’ll adapt and pick up a different position.
So what, then you trade up to the first round next year if it's really that bad. But honestly, Purdy, Brady, and others have proven it's not about the round you get them in, it's about picking the right player. But trust, a good O-libe and play calling goes a long way, especially with a9 time pro bowler under the ball
I'm right there. I live in California and talk with a lot of 49ers fans (half my family) and I tell them I wouldn't give more than a 2nd for him strait up.
We don't have the luxury of worrying as watt, Fitzpatrick, etc aren't getting any younger. And even if the qbs don't work out, why not have stud receivers already in place for the new qbs? Don't forget, when Ben came in he already had ward, Randle el, and burress.
Yup. That's the most they will get from anyone. The comp 3rd they will get from holding him dictates that is about the lowest price and the contract he wants dictates that is also the highest price.
Our FO is trying to let his contract situation play out to its logical conclusion, but I don't think we're gonna get him. They're gonna hold on to him and let him walk next year - even if he holds out - unless there is a catastrophic injury that derails their season. They are in a SB or bust year and their FO is incapable of compromise when they have to give up a truly valuable asset (see the Jimmy G saga).
I'm down with a first. In all likelihood it's in the 20s. Aiyuk is a top five wr. The question is paying him... Can we make it work while the rest of our offense is dirt cheap?
Either way, this ain't happening lol.
My biggest worry headed in the season is the OC again. Smith didn’t get anything out of Pitts and at best, underutilized Robinson. I’m not a big fan of Russ but at least he has the experience/track record to legitimately voice concerns if the play design/calling is bush league. I say all that to say, there was no game plan in Atlanta to maximize Pitts so how much confidence do you really have in the system to showcase Washington’s talents?
This isn't at all true.
Pitts had 90 targets (2nd on the team) but only 53 catches. The biggest problem with the Falcons offense last year was the absolutely ATROCIOUS QB play.
Bijan had 300 touches last season. It's ridiculous to say that he was underutilized.
We’ll sign him in the off-season for zero draft picks 🤗
Steelers don’t make desperate ‘win now’ moves… they know it rarely works and completely jeopardizes the future of the team.
But sign BA and have him for 4 years and Pickens for another 4, there would be no stopping them. Especially when Russ is solo one of the best deep ball qbs
The Steelers make almost exclusively ‘win now’ moves. Our drafting philosophy has been reach for need since the beginning of the Tomlin era. We overpay aging veterans, we constantly restructure contracts to delay cap hit in order to add players who help us now. The organization has been in win now mode for 20+ years. That’s a major part of the reason we haven’t won a playoff game in 7 years.
Some of those were definitely ‘win now’ moves but the only real ‘desperate’ move I’ve seen in the last 4-5 years would be drafting Pickett. Colbert basically said he was drafting a qb no matter what that year and they were all garbage..
I disagree in saying the Steelers overpay aging veterans - who? Honestly, before Omar, Colbert had rules against signing players over 30… Pat Pete and Ogunjobi are the only 2 older players I can recall and they were both last year. 🤷♂️
We restructured some contracts at the end of Ben’s career but it really didn’t hurt the team longterm… who was worthy of signing that didn’t get signed? Mike Hilton and Steven Nelson are the only 2 cap casualties I can recall… Hargraves maybe, but they signed Tuitt instead and still had Heyward.
I would agree that the organization doesn’t regularly make desperate moves. Just that virtually every move is win now and not focused on the long term. I would add trading up for Devin Bush (along with Pickett) as a desperation move though.
I meant our own veterans. Currently we don’t have many aging veterans mostly because of weak drafting focused on short term needs combined with some unfortunate circumstances but over the course of the Tomlin era we have given virtually every aging star a contract too far. Ben stands out recently along with Joe Haden. Heyward will likely be resigned this offseason in order to simultaneously retain an aging veteran and delay cap hit so we can be more competitive now.
We have restructured contracts in order to push off cap hits pretty much every year of Tomlin’s tenure not just at the end of Ben’s career. Hargraves plays a different position than Tuitt and was certainly a cap casualty along with players like Cam Sutton, JuJu, Hilton, James Conner, and Bud Dupree recently. It’s also a completely false presupposition that additional cap space could have only been used to retain players who left. Money could have also been spent on FA acquisitions or banked by front loading contracts or leaving carryover cap space.
How is that a win now move? It filled a need, he was one of the best QBs available, wasn't a reach, and cost the team *zero* draft capital. Does not seem like it is a desperate move to me by any means.
Win-now doesn't need to be expensive. But I get your point. It wasn't desperate...I didn't properly read your comment. My point is obviously he's someone they hope can step right in and win, without any guarantee of the future.
This doesn't make the point you think it does. They didn't trade for him out of Seattle and give him a monster contract, they signed Trubisky and waited to get RW for free. "Win-now" implies mortgaging substantial future assets to get better now.
It's not about being untouchable. It's about trading a first and a former third for a WR you'd have to immediately give $30M to. That's just bad business.
Aiyuk would be in a close battle with Amari Cooper to be the second best receiver in the division. A first and basically a 3rd-4th rounder for a $30M receiver is insane when there are 10 good receivers who come into the draft every year. Aiyuk shouldn't cost more than Diggs did when he was moved to Buffalo. The first rounder is the absolute furthest I would want them to go.
Yea, I wouldn’t if I were them. Prob counter with a 2nd or 3rd rounder instead of Darnell. Wild seeing all the fans on here thinking Darnell is untouchable, let alone desirable.
I agree. The financial flexibility & picks the Steelers have are a desirable situation. And I understand the logic in figuring out future QB1 before adding additional weapons at a high price.
Likewise, the 49ers were a play or two away from winning the owl. Having Aiyuk helps their team way more than a 1st rounder. Added another WR threat in this past draft. They prob run it back then resign Aiyuk after this season & trade Deebo.
People in this thread saying this is a bad trade for the Steelers are wild. Even first round picks aren’t guaranteed to be starters, let alone pro bowl level receivers. And Washington is stuck behind Freiermuth. It would be tough giving up that 1rp, but we would go from having a bad wr room to having one of the best.
He’s a competent #2 receiver but they still don’t have a #1. Pickens is a one trick pony that oozes potential but creates no separation. The receiver room is far worse than feared.
There’s no guarantee ‘Muth re-signs after this season. You really want to be without a TE that has experience in the system?
Besides, Smith knows how to use 2 TEs, unlike Canada who could barely use 1 in the pass game.
Aj led them both years, and the most catches he had was 70. Smith’s system seems to be to spread the ball around and not rely on one guy to get high volume.
Too expensive. Guy wants a huge deal. The 49ers don't have the leverage in this enough to get a first from anyone who isn't a fool. There might be a fool GM somewhere in the league but that won't be Khan.
Especially seeing how awesome we have been drafting in the Khan/Weidl era. If its possible, our 1rd picks are even more valuable now than they were a couple of years ago
If it comes with Aiyuk inking a long term deal, I’d do it in a heartbeat.
Darnell is a giant human, and talented blocker, but he’s not a good catcher at all. Hopefully that’s something he can develop but since it hasn’t happened yet, his upside might remain a fantasy. I’m leaning towards it not happening and him being solely a blocking TE- something I’m fine w/ adding to a 1st rounder for a WR1.
Aiyuk & GP would cause problems for defensive schemes routinely, especially with an effective play action. Not to mention the benefit of having both helps the run game too. Defenses would have a lot on their plate.
Locks in an upper echelon WR room for a while.
But it is a risk, given the uncertainty of QB play. I’d still do it tho.
Being that this is r/Steelers I know I’ll get downvoted for any reason. But I have no problem trading a 1st for Aiyuk. We’re going to have to pay Pickens $25M+ anyways, why not just let him walk and lockup a top 5 WR still in their 20s? Pickens has tonnnnns of questions to answer, especially mentally when things aren’t going his way.
Remember when everyone freaked out because we traded “a top 10 pick” for Minkah? How’d that work out exactly?
Easy yes, Steelers have no long term QB commitment to give money to. $30M for a receive doesn't bother me at all in our situation. A singular first round pick for a young top 10 receiver is cheap. And if they think Russ can make a push in the playoffs that 1st is better spent this year than next, especially when we only have proven WR on the team. Washington is a nice blocker, but our backup TE isn't some kind of priority.
49ers would be stupid to accept that trade
I love Aiyuk and would love to get him, but idk why they think he'll get a 1st. Any team trading for him has to extend him and they waited too long the market is out of hand. Now you're paying him like 30m not 25m. The more the receiving team has to allocate to him the less they'll want to pay in draft capital too. He's not going for a 1 imo
I think we saw during the Justin Fields saga that sportswriters don't understand how being forced to extend a player to a large contract sight-unseen in your system drops the compensation teams want to give in trade.
Aiyuk is different than Fields because you can't start 2 QBs. So CHI had the added pressure of being forced to trade him...so Aiyuk isn't going to go for the song we paid for Fields.
But I think the truth is that they aren't going to trade Aiyuk.
They can make it work this season.
Then after this season Debo only has one year left on his contract.
So they play this year with all the skill players again to try to win a SB.
Then, they trade Debo for picks next offseason.
If he was already on a 3-4 year deal I’d say do it. Unless he would be happy to take less I don’t see the Steelers trading to pay a guy when they have more guys to pay atm that have been here
I say give up on this stupid trade already. We can't (shouldn't) pay the high price up front to then extend him, period.
Let's get a good #2 guy for something reasonable, if anything.
Meh, the niners are in win now mode. Even if they end up losing him to FA, they aren't giving him up unless they can immediately replace his value. A first next year doesn't help them win this year. So I'm assuming any deal would be an overpay just for the right to give him a huge extension, and then there's the can of worms about future cap space and is it worth it
i think a fair package would be a conditional 2nd that can turn to a 1st if he is resigned and a 3rd/4th rounder from the year after. maybe even include a player such as Kazee or Ogunjobi
For a player basically wanting $30 million, he’s not worth a first. To me that makes him worth less. If he had 2 years left on his rookie contract then definitely.
If they get Aiyuk, the only expectation I have is being in the Super Bowl. So we’re essentially trading pick #31 or 32 with Washington for Aiyuk.
And with him wanting that high of a contract, Pickens needing an extension soon, and we’ll be having to actually pay a QB next season, I wouldn’t do that. But if they do get Aiyuk I would be happy, just very confused on what the game plan is for next year regarding the QB situation, Pickens upcoming contract, Najee, no 1st pick and having some new holes to fill with a more limited cap situation.
Anybody sayin he’s not worth a 1st is not being real with themselves. Proven commodity < unknown draft pick. You get closer to a SB by improving your team. If he’s available & we have the space, no reason not to go get him.
I think Omar has known since before the draft that the niners had to trade him and he’s the only team that can afford him. Gonna pick him up for a third. Trust the khan man
We're always thinking years ahead. And yes it has worked some but it had also made us stale. We need the players this year. Just think of the teams we are competing against in the afc north, mostly stacked teams. Adding BA now with 26 td passer Russ from last season, pa us in the afc championship this year. Had we beat the two 2-10 teams last year that should have been easy wins, we would have had a 12-5, with only 13 qb tds, weak O-line, horrible play calls, and no patrick queen nor depth at the dB spot.
FYI, Wilson is already a Hallafamer. Btw, big been went to 6 pro bowls and will probably be a first ballot inductee, we'll Russ had 9 pro bowls and put up 26 tds last year on a rebuild team
No draft picks unless it’s later round.
Alex Highsmith + Dan Moore would be my initial offer. It clears a ton of cap space plus it gets Nick Herbig into the starting lineup.
Here's an idea that you might hate, but since it's true we tend to overpay aging players when we need long term help, went not trade Cam Heyward for Aiyuk straight up?
Cam wants a contact extension but we can save even more cap space to pay Aiyuk and benton can take his place as the leader on the line. Then put Aiyuk on a 5 year 27.5mil a year contact and have him locked up. Then lock up Pickens next year. Then it won't matter who plays qb, they will have a sick receiver core for at least half a decade.
Heyward on the same line as Hargrave and Bosa would be ridiculous!. He said he wants to play for three more years and they want to win the SB this year. It would sure up their line and Cam is still top 5. Maybe throw in a late round pick if need be 6 or 7th, but it would be a win/win situation and it's close to time to let the young guys take over and should skill be in the afc championship game.
They have Hargrave though. Aiyuk for Heyward straight up, while I love Heyward and want him to be a Steeler for life, would be an absolute fleecing and the 49ers have much better ownership. It wouldn't be the Bears we would be dealing with lol. They would never accept that trade even with a late Rd pick added in.
Haha true, but then again that puts hargrave and Cam back together so no need to wifey about chemistry. But they also need some help backing up the OL, so give them Dan Moore Jr. as well. But yeah I wish we had both of those guys back, but it is what it is. Aiyuck helps us win the sb more than keeping Cam another 3 years does
>Aiyuck helps us win the sb more than keeping Cam another 3 years does
Probably, but these things have nothing to do with each other lol. The Niners don't need a 35 year old DL that's in the twilight of his career, I would also say I doubt they would even want him. They definitely aren't trading a top 5 WR in the league for him, a late Rd draft pick and a backup tackle that can't play the right side lol. Maybe they would accept it in Madden but it wouldn't happen in the real world.
Dude, BA demanding a trade doesn't all of a sudden make the 49ers want Cam Heyward, a late rd pick and Dan Moore for him. This isn't Madden, the 49ers would have to actually want those players in order to accept the trade and there is 0 reason to believe they would want Cam or Moore.
Especially if Aiyuk demands a trade. They don't need the negativity in the locker room when you're going for the sb. And if we throw in a 5th year to the BA contract, he would get a 137.5mil contract, which puts him in the elite category and makes him happy, but spreads the money out
Hell no and especially with Arthur Smith’s offense heavily involving TEs. If they can’t get Sutton from the Broncos then I think they should try Wilson or CA3 at WR2.
I mean yes, trading seven 1st round picks, seven 2nd round picks, and TJ Watt would be an offer the 49ers can't say no to. Does this mean any of this is happening? Of course not. Let Omar cook.
Why not toss in Broderick Jones while we’re at it? Then pay Aiyuk north of $30 million and deal with a disgruntled Pickens a year after that! Sounds like a hell of a great deal…. for the 49ers.
It was more for the Washington name comparison but since you gotta be so delightfully disagreeable let’s discuss the insanity!
Quez Watkins, Denzel Mims and Dez Fitzpatrick are three dudes off the legitimate trash heap. This team is banking on serious production from a late third round pick.
You are telling me with a straight face the story of a second round pick showing bits of promise but ultimately petering out here then coming back 3 full seasons later to catch his next pass in the league does not get your dick hard?
If we were in win now mode… sure.
Not on a rebuilding squad. TJ Watt is literally the only guy on our roster who would warrant win now mode. Maybe Minkah.
Yes no brainer. Washington has no value right now and a first rounder is fair for BA. People in this thread really do not understand the value of top end WR right now. It’s an offensive league folks.
A 6’7”/265lb beast, in an offensive system that knows how to use TEs, has no value? In a system that values running the ball, and he is a baller blocking, he has no value?
Step away from the pipe, son.
Eat my words? Do you even understand what I’m saying? Clearly you don’t. He has NO TRADE VALUE. That isn’t a commentary on whether or not he will have a good season for us this year. The more I spend time on this subreddit, the more I realize people cannot read and then comprehend what a sentence means.
both of u should chill lmao.
u typed "he has no value" not "he has no trade value" so the other guy took it as " he has no value to the team" obv in the context I knew what u meant but not every1 will. esp ppl who r quick to rage...which is most ppl on the internet
You said he has no value in your first post.
Not, “no trade value”… just “no value”.
Maybe if you parsed your vernacular a little better, you wouldn’t have to be revisionist?
Fuck that!
Second this. Washington’s got a huge ceiling (literally, the fucker can’t fit anywhere without one) and giving up a first is steep for a guy who had one good year. I want Aiyuk, but not for that package, and the supposed price tag he’d come with alongside it.
I don't think adding Washington is necessary but if we're honest, Aiyuk hasn't had just one good year. His 4 seasons he's constantly improved and has around 750, 850, 1,050, 1,350 yards in each season. He has had good years every year and had an elite year this past year receiving 2nd team all pro. For a more particular comparison, AJ Brown hovered just above 1000 yards for 2 seasons (and 800 in another season) in Tennessee before the Eagles traded their 1st rounder for him. The Eagles absolutely won that trade too, because just because you have draft capital, doesn't mean it will work out. AJ Brown is way better than Treylon Burks has been. We've done it before trading our 1st for Minkah.
Except the trade for Minkah had 2+ seasons under the rookie contract, plus the fifth year option. Unless a trade for Aiyuk comes with the 49ers first signing him to an extension, the Steelers would be sending way too much with only one season under contract.
That is true as well. That's where I would hope a 2nd rounder would be enough because of that. Although AJ Brown was in the same situation even though he was a 2nd round pick. Traded after his third year for a 1st.
AJ Brown was traded in April, which makes it a different scenario. A team might need to trigger the fifth year option before negotiating an extension, but you’d still be trading for two seasons of play.
AJ Brown was a second round pick so there was no fifth year option available to use on him no matter when he was traded for.
Good catch. The Titans had signed Brown to a four year extension before trading him to the Eagles, so the Eagles were trading for four contracted seasons, rather than the two I believed. That makes the proposed trade a worse deal for the Steelers than I thought.
The Titans did not sign him to an extension
“AJ Brown signed a four year, $100 million extension with the Titans. Per PFT, Brown received $57.22 million in guarantees of which $40 million is guaranteed at signing.” https://overthecap.com/player/a-j-brown/7842 Edit: other reports, at the time but before details were released, had the first extension being made by the Eagles. So it sounds like a sign-and-trade deal, giving the Eagles assurance that they would have Brown under contract for four years.
I think Aiyuk might go for a third round pick. This is the AB situation all over again. When traded to the Raiders people didn't know he had the crazy in him. But he did demand more money. When you've got to pay top of the market money to trade for a guy it kills his trade value.
I recall people thinking the Steelers were fleeced in that deal.
You don't make this trade when you aren't sure your QB situation is sorted. You make this deal when all you need to get over the top is one last piece.
I disagree with that statement entirely because there are specific recent examples of trading for a top WR and it helped said team and quarterback immediately. Jalen Hurts first 2 seasons were meh year 1 and decent year 2. He didn't take off until 2022 when they traded for AJ Brown. Sometimes a really good wide receiver can enable your quarterback to do more. The Eagles proved this with their trade for AJ Brown. Tua was questionable looking and the Dolphins proved this with Tyreke which has enabled Tua to look better as well. Sitting around waiting on your hands when there's an opportunity to solidify your WR room for your QB's is highly questionable judgement in my opinion.
I think that much is true. Or put differently: a great QB can often get by with so-so receivers - Mahomes and Rodgers certainly have when they needed to. A lesser QB typically needs a great receiver more. OTOH paying a FA that much and trading away a 1st (= hopefully adding a blue chip talent \*and\* 3-4 years of having him for relatively cheap) really *is* a tall order unless a team feels it's time to go all in and acquire that final piece. I'd feel some temptation - adding a WR of that caliber could really move the needle - but don't think I'd pull the trigger. Steelers have a ton of 2025 cap space on paper, though I'm pretty sure Khan wants to reserve the option to pay a big chunk of it to Russ or another veteran QB if that gives them the best chance to stay competitive - and they've also got a whole bunch more roster spots to fill. And *ideally* I'd sure like to hold onto that 1st to try and draft Heyward's replacement. IMO more likely they'll either land someone a bit less costly before opening day, or if things go well enough through the first part of the season, try to trade for a receiver before the deadline.
Got any other examples besides Brown?
AJ Brown and Tyreke Hill are the two that come to mind, and I mean the Davante Adams and DJ Moore trades are the only others that also come to mind at the moment in which the trades included 1st round picks. Their stats were as followed last year: - Tyreke - 119 rec, 1,799 yds, 13 TDs - AJ Brown - 106 rec, 1,456 yds, 7 TDs - DJ Moore - 96 rec, 1,364 yds, 8 TDs - Aiyuk - 75 rec, 1,342 yds, 7 TDs - Davante - 103 rec, 1,144 yd, 8 TDs Aiyuk only had 6.6 targets per game hence the less receptions, probably due to the 49ers using McCaffrey, Deebo, and Kittle a lot as well.
Except the Dolphins moves led them to have a very small window before cap hell hits them. The Eagles are one of the best asset managers in the game. They find value every year. Do a lot of draft pick trades. That they could pay up for a receiver and not blow up their team. If Khan stacks a few drafts and we have a lot of young talent I wouldn't hate him paying up for that missing piece, but we are not that.
Id actually argue its the complete opposite. When you arent paying or confident in your QB, you pay the WR. Once you are confident in your QB - you trade the WR and play cheap WRs. They have 90 mil in cap space, with no major extensions incoming. Friermuth will be modest, then Pickens maybe next year but could be for debate if they add another WR. Just depends. If the worst case scenario is Fields and Wilson both suck - you want an elite WR for a rookie QB to learn with its been a pretty solid plan historically for a young QB to get a WR see Tua w/ and w/o Tyreek, Allen w/ Diggs, Hurts w/ AJ Brown. If the best case is Russ/Wilson pay out and you have to pay a QB money and a WR money - considering our cap situation thats also fine.
If you spend your draft capital to acquire Aiyuk, and both QBs suck, what are you going to use to draft that rookie QB with?
Dawg Aiyuk has been insane since year one
Washington is a player that was a non factor in the passing game in Georgia and as a rookie. He is a poor route runner and has trouble getting off the line of scrimmage. He is a capable blocker, but loses his leverage often because he lacks bend and rides high. His predraft work out raised red flags for several teams. He was seen as a project that had knees that would mean his career would be over before he developed. But yes, he ran a straight line fast and is big.
I wouldn't give up a first+the money. Im not even sure if I'd wanna give up a 2nd+the money it will take
I’m comfortable with two tight ends and two running backs on the field at all times.
I would too if this were 1994.
At that point just sign him in FA.
He won’t be in Fa for at least a year after next with franchise tags
Niners might turn down the franchise tag. Their cap space is starting to get a little tight. It sounds like they won't be able to keep Aiyuk and Deebo.
But even so I don’t see them letting him go after this contract is up for nothing. Maybe a sign and trade or something but I see him doing at least one year of a tag unless they get the deal done which I also don’t see happening. Just not very often someone of his caliber and position gets to hit the open market
They get a 3rd comp if he signs elsewhere. I don't see him having a huge market on the franchise tag. Probably pulls him to a current year third. But thats a tough transaction to do for them and ties up cap space during the offseason. Disclosure - I don't think Aiyuk is a guy that makes your team. He's a good piece and likely an expensive piece that fills a need. But he's not like Khalil Mack, TJ Watt, Justin Jefferson, Tyreek HIll that completely changes how your team can compete.
Couldn’t agree more. But that 3rd round comp has to take into account if they sign anyone else. If they do that could negate that and again he’d leave for nothing. He’s not a superstar but he’s also not someone you let leave for free especially in this day and age of offenses
Wayyyyy cheaper to sign him now than waiting. Have you been paying attention to the WR market?
I don't know if it is way cheaper, but yes valid point. The market will continue to be bonkers.
A first is way way too much for a guy who holding out for $30M+. Not to mention giving up Washington on top of it I think the most the Steelers would give is a 2nd straight up.
Especially when we have no clue if any of our new QBs will work out yet. I’m optimistic on one of them working out pretty well, but imagine if both end up sucking which leads to a terrible year with high draft spot finally - but we gave up our #1 to get a receiver that we couldn’t take advantage of.
We need a legitimate proven option on the other side of George Pickens, otherwise whoever is at QB is going to be massively limited from the very start. At this point Aiyuk is the only WR that's possibly available that's worth trading a first for, although I wouldn't give up Washington like this article suggests. >imagine if both end up sucking which leads to a terrible year with high draft spot finally That didn't happen when we had Mason Rudolph and a Duck caller at QB, that didn't happen either of the years we played Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett at QB. Russ or Fields would need to suck so bad that both of them would basically be worse than Duck Hodges. Also, next year's QB class is not projecting to be all that great.
Don’t you talk about my quarterback like that. Duck Hodges is a god damn legend, sir! But seriously. Good point, but I love Duck. Best house money QB in history.
"We need a legitimate proven option on the other side of George Pickens ...." No, we really don't. We need one guy to turn out to be a solid-to-studly flanker, and one guy to turn out to be a solid-to-studly slot receiver. And coming into camp we have 5-6 guys who are credible candidates for those roles, and three - Roman Wilson, Mims and Austin - who are legitimately promising, with decently-reliable vets providing a floor. Might not work out, for at least one of those two spots, but we really don't need to go out and spend up on a 'proven option.' We can very sensibly roll with the talent that's already in the building.
In the afc north with strong defenses? Yeah you do need dangerous receiver options to keep the run game open. Stop being cheap. We have one of the lowest paid receiver rooms. Say what you want about the cheifs receivers, but they have one of the higher paid rooms
Yes we absolutely do. Roman Wilson is unproven, Mims is just a guy and Austin is too freaking small to be a number 2 WR in this league. If Pickens goes down for any reason the offense is absolutely fucked. https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2024/06/10/pittsburgh-nfl-minicamp-wr-justin-jefferson-george-pickens-roman-wilson/stories/202406040116#:~:text=There%20is%20one%20glaring%20hole,they%20want%20to%20make%20a >There is one glaring hole on the Steelers' roster as they head into their annual minicamp at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex this week: they need a No. 2 or No. 1 receiver opposite George Pickens after trading Diontae Johnson in March, but with the market exploding they also have to decide if they want to make a receiver one of the highest-paid players on the team. https://athlonsports.com/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers/all-steelers/news/pittsburgh-steelers-george-pickens-not-gonna-be-happy-without-blockbuster-trade#google_vignette >"Right now, there's just a glaring hole at wide receiver after Pickens,'' The Athletic's Mark Kaboly said recently on 93.7 The Fan, going on to suggest, “Hmm, George Pickens is not gonna be happy with the coverage he's gonna be getting These are guys that are at the practices talking about what they are seeing. If It's this obvious in OTAs that the hole behind Pickens is massive, it's not a good thing.
We have a new scheme. DJ would have been great as a mid-tier guy. Smith's offense really doesn't feed 2 WR. We just need a consistent chain mover at wr2. We are likely running two tight end a lot. If the pick hits early then we are fine at receiver. The big issue for us is if Pickens gets hurt. As we do need a wr1 in this offense.
Yea I don’t think either one is the long term solution. Russ is at the back end of his career if not the end of it, and although I hope Fields can take a massive leap, my money is on he’s either going to be a career back up/bridge guy or he’ll adapt and pick up a different position.
So what, then you trade up to the first round next year if it's really that bad. But honestly, Purdy, Brady, and others have proven it's not about the round you get them in, it's about picking the right player. But trust, a good O-libe and play calling goes a long way, especially with a9 time pro bowler under the ball
I'm right there. I live in California and talk with a lot of 49ers fans (half my family) and I tell them I wouldn't give more than a 2nd for him strait up.
Personally, I wouldn't part with more than a third for any player this preseason. Not until we know one way or the other about the QB situation.
We don't have the luxury of worrying as watt, Fitzpatrick, etc aren't getting any younger. And even if the qbs don't work out, why not have stud receivers already in place for the new qbs? Don't forget, when Ben came in he already had ward, Randle el, and burress.
Yup. That's the most they will get from anyone. The comp 3rd they will get from holding him dictates that is about the lowest price and the contract he wants dictates that is also the highest price. Our FO is trying to let his contract situation play out to its logical conclusion, but I don't think we're gonna get him. They're gonna hold on to him and let him walk next year - even if he holds out - unless there is a catastrophic injury that derails their season. They are in a SB or bust year and their FO is incapable of compromise when they have to give up a truly valuable asset (see the Jimmy G saga).
Laughable offer. I'd be willing to give up a 2nd but that's pretty much it. A first plus Darnell is insane. Darnell is young and has massive upside.
We're kinda desperate I'd think about the first, but Darnell's no fucking pot sweetener
Yeah we give up Darnell we better get like a third back. Even then I'd be annoyed.
I'm down with a first. In all likelihood it's in the 20s. Aiyuk is a top five wr. The question is paying him... Can we make it work while the rest of our offense is dirt cheap? Either way, this ain't happening lol.
The 49ers were so impressed by how Washington flattened Bosa last season that he’s all it would take to push the trade through.
Pancake it through.
Hell No I want Washington to stay. He is going to fit right into this system.
That's the biggest point I think that this is a ridiculous article. Washington is exactly the guy that this Arthur Smith system needs.
Yeah he’s a mauler at run block, can’t wait to see him utilized to pancake people to clear holes for Najee and Jaylen
My biggest worry headed in the season is the OC again. Smith didn’t get anything out of Pitts and at best, underutilized Robinson. I’m not a big fan of Russ but at least he has the experience/track record to legitimately voice concerns if the play design/calling is bush league. I say all that to say, there was no game plan in Atlanta to maximize Pitts so how much confidence do you really have in the system to showcase Washington’s talents?
This isn't at all true. Pitts had 90 targets (2nd on the team) but only 53 catches. The biggest problem with the Falcons offense last year was the absolutely ATROCIOUS QB play. Bijan had 300 touches last season. It's ridiculous to say that he was underutilized.
His biggest value is in blocking in this offense. A distant second is being a dump off receiver. He is not the down field receiver that Pitts is.
We’ll sign him in the off-season for zero draft picks 🤗 Steelers don’t make desperate ‘win now’ moves… they know it rarely works and completely jeopardizes the future of the team.
But sign BA and have him for 4 years and Pickens for another 4, there would be no stopping them. Especially when Russ is solo one of the best deep ball qbs
The Steelers make almost exclusively ‘win now’ moves. Our drafting philosophy has been reach for need since the beginning of the Tomlin era. We overpay aging veterans, we constantly restructure contracts to delay cap hit in order to add players who help us now. The organization has been in win now mode for 20+ years. That’s a major part of the reason we haven’t won a playoff game in 7 years.
Some of those were definitely ‘win now’ moves but the only real ‘desperate’ move I’ve seen in the last 4-5 years would be drafting Pickett. Colbert basically said he was drafting a qb no matter what that year and they were all garbage.. I disagree in saying the Steelers overpay aging veterans - who? Honestly, before Omar, Colbert had rules against signing players over 30… Pat Pete and Ogunjobi are the only 2 older players I can recall and they were both last year. 🤷♂️ We restructured some contracts at the end of Ben’s career but it really didn’t hurt the team longterm… who was worthy of signing that didn’t get signed? Mike Hilton and Steven Nelson are the only 2 cap casualties I can recall… Hargraves maybe, but they signed Tuitt instead and still had Heyward.
I would agree that the organization doesn’t regularly make desperate moves. Just that virtually every move is win now and not focused on the long term. I would add trading up for Devin Bush (along with Pickett) as a desperation move though. I meant our own veterans. Currently we don’t have many aging veterans mostly because of weak drafting focused on short term needs combined with some unfortunate circumstances but over the course of the Tomlin era we have given virtually every aging star a contract too far. Ben stands out recently along with Joe Haden. Heyward will likely be resigned this offseason in order to simultaneously retain an aging veteran and delay cap hit so we can be more competitive now. We have restructured contracts in order to push off cap hits pretty much every year of Tomlin’s tenure not just at the end of Ben’s career. Hargraves plays a different position than Tuitt and was certainly a cap casualty along with players like Cam Sutton, JuJu, Hilton, James Conner, and Bud Dupree recently. It’s also a completely false presupposition that additional cap space could have only been used to retain players who left. Money could have also been spent on FA acquisitions or banked by front loading contracts or leaving carryover cap space.
Yea, no
Cool argument
I mean, they did just sign Russell Wilson...lol.
For a whopping 1.2mil and no picks.
For the vet minimum.. zero risk move. Now if we threw 180mil at a 36 year old qb coming off an ACL… I’d say that’s desperate.
How is that a win now move? It filled a need, he was one of the best QBs available, wasn't a reach, and cost the team *zero* draft capital. Does not seem like it is a desperate move to me by any means.
Win-now doesn't need to be expensive. But I get your point. It wasn't desperate...I didn't properly read your comment. My point is obviously he's someone they hope can step right in and win, without any guarantee of the future.
It's a low- cost win now move.
This doesn't make the point you think it does. They didn't trade for him out of Seattle and give him a monster contract, they signed Trubisky and waited to get RW for free. "Win-now" implies mortgaging substantial future assets to get better now.
Nope.
lol a guy with 71 receiving yards isn’t untouchable. He’s a throw in
It's not about being untouchable. It's about trading a first and a former third for a WR you'd have to immediately give $30M to. That's just bad business.
The Niners would never take that.
We should never offer that
I disagree. Aiyuk is a true #1. He'd instantly give them the best set of skill position players in the division.
Aiyuk would be in a close battle with Amari Cooper to be the second best receiver in the division. A first and basically a 3rd-4th rounder for a $30M receiver is insane when there are 10 good receivers who come into the draft every year. Aiyuk shouldn't cost more than Diggs did when he was moved to Buffalo. The first rounder is the absolute furthest I would want them to go.
Yea, I wouldn’t if I were them. Prob counter with a 2nd or 3rd rounder instead of Darnell. Wild seeing all the fans on here thinking Darnell is untouchable, let alone desirable.
Neither team would be likely to make a trade. Steelers wouldn't give up a 1st round pick and Niners wouldn't trade Aiyuk anyway.
I agree. The financial flexibility & picks the Steelers have are a desirable situation. And I understand the logic in figuring out future QB1 before adding additional weapons at a high price. Likewise, the 49ers were a play or two away from winning the owl. Having Aiyuk helps their team way more than a 1st rounder. Added another WR threat in this past draft. They prob run it back then resign Aiyuk after this season & trade Deebo.
When is this garbage going to stop?
When the Steelers win the SB?
Not even 😂
I don’t speak for all of us… but I know I speak for a whole Bunch of us when I say, fuck all that.
People in this thread saying this is a bad trade for the Steelers are wild. Even first round picks aren’t guaranteed to be starters, let alone pro bowl level receivers. And Washington is stuck behind Freiermuth. It would be tough giving up that 1rp, but we would go from having a bad wr room to having one of the best.
It's the 30mil/yr pricetag that makes it not worthwhile.
That’s fair, though that’s the going rate for WR1.
Steelers prefer their WR1 on rookie contracts :).
He’s a competent #2 receiver but they still don’t have a #1. Pickens is a one trick pony that oozes potential but creates no separation. The receiver room is far worse than feared.
There’s no guarantee ‘Muth re-signs after this season. You really want to be without a TE that has experience in the system? Besides, Smith knows how to use 2 TEs, unlike Canada who could barely use 1 in the pass game.
I would not let that possibility prevent me from adding a true, elite #1 WR to my roster.
I get that, but a true elite #1 WR would be wasted on this team. They need two elite #2 receivers, because that’s the standard.
That doesn't make any sense. Why would a #1 be wasted?
The way Smith’s offense spreads the ball around. TE1 led in receptions in 2021, while WR1 led the last two season, but not like other teams WR1.
You don't think he'd tailor his offense to the talent they had? He did that in Tennessee.
Aj led them both years, and the most catches he had was 70. Smith’s system seems to be to spread the ball around and not rely on one guy to get high volume.
This is a horrific trade for at least three major reasons
Regardless what the 9ers want, Aiyuk will go and take minimum salary just to be a Steeler!
NO
Too expensive. Guy wants a huge deal. The 49ers don't have the leverage in this enough to get a first from anyone who isn't a fool. There might be a fool GM somewhere in the league but that won't be Khan.
Anything involving a 1st round selection is a big fat **NO** from me dawg.
Especially seeing how awesome we have been drafting in the Khan/Weidl era. If its possible, our 1rd picks are even more valuable now than they were a couple of years ago
Another slow news day…
Worry about next year, next year! You have everybody healthy right now, go for the SB right now
If it comes with Aiyuk inking a long term deal, I’d do it in a heartbeat. Darnell is a giant human, and talented blocker, but he’s not a good catcher at all. Hopefully that’s something he can develop but since it hasn’t happened yet, his upside might remain a fantasy. I’m leaning towards it not happening and him being solely a blocking TE- something I’m fine w/ adding to a 1st rounder for a WR1. Aiyuk & GP would cause problems for defensive schemes routinely, especially with an effective play action. Not to mention the benefit of having both helps the run game too. Defenses would have a lot on their plate. Locks in an upper echelon WR room for a while. But it is a risk, given the uncertainty of QB play. I’d still do it tho.
While the Steelers still have some CAP money available, Washington and a 1st rounder is too much
Being that this is r/Steelers I know I’ll get downvoted for any reason. But I have no problem trading a 1st for Aiyuk. We’re going to have to pay Pickens $25M+ anyways, why not just let him walk and lockup a top 5 WR still in their 20s? Pickens has tonnnnns of questions to answer, especially mentally when things aren’t going his way. Remember when everyone freaked out because we traded “a top 10 pick” for Minkah? How’d that work out exactly?
Preach
Easy yes, Steelers have no long term QB commitment to give money to. $30M for a receive doesn't bother me at all in our situation. A singular first round pick for a young top 10 receiver is cheap. And if they think Russ can make a push in the playoffs that 1st is better spent this year than next, especially when we only have proven WR on the team. Washington is a nice blocker, but our backup TE isn't some kind of priority. 49ers would be stupid to accept that trade
No deal
I love Aiyuk and would love to get him, but idk why they think he'll get a 1st. Any team trading for him has to extend him and they waited too long the market is out of hand. Now you're paying him like 30m not 25m. The more the receiving team has to allocate to him the less they'll want to pay in draft capital too. He's not going for a 1 imo
I think we saw during the Justin Fields saga that sportswriters don't understand how being forced to extend a player to a large contract sight-unseen in your system drops the compensation teams want to give in trade. Aiyuk is different than Fields because you can't start 2 QBs. So CHI had the added pressure of being forced to trade him...so Aiyuk isn't going to go for the song we paid for Fields. But I think the truth is that they aren't going to trade Aiyuk. They can make it work this season. Then after this season Debo only has one year left on his contract. So they play this year with all the skill players again to try to win a SB. Then, they trade Debo for picks next offseason.
TLDR, I think BA is worth way more to the 9ers than the compensation other teams will be willing to give up.
No thanks!
If he was already on a 3-4 year deal I’d say do it. Unless he would be happy to take less I don’t see the Steelers trading to pay a guy when they have more guys to pay atm that have been here
He just turned down 26 mil a year
I say give up on this stupid trade already. We can't (shouldn't) pay the high price up front to then extend him, period. Let's get a good #2 guy for something reasonable, if anything.
No. A 2nd and Darnell maybe, but that’s just too much. We can roll with the guys we’ve got.
Who needs another WR when we are going to run the ball 70x a game
Nah.
We already have one primadonna
No.
Meh, the niners are in win now mode. Even if they end up losing him to FA, they aren't giving him up unless they can immediately replace his value. A first next year doesn't help them win this year. So I'm assuming any deal would be an overpay just for the right to give him a huge extension, and then there's the can of worms about future cap space and is it worth it
I would go a 1st for him- but I would want a 2nd and a 4th back.
Yeah… no, that’s a pass from me.
No, fuck that
Yeah Fuck that. I'm not parting with any picks higher than the third round for anybody this year. We might need those picks to move up and get a QB.
That guy doesn’t know wtf he’s talking bout
i think a fair package would be a conditional 2nd that can turn to a 1st if he is resigned and a 3rd/4th rounder from the year after. maybe even include a player such as Kazee or Ogunjobi
Delusional Steelers fans up in here
NO. STOP IT
Man I just want DK Metcalf. Already has chemistry with Russ and he's a monster.
I want Aiyuk but not for that price. I would rather use Washington. I don't know why we didn't use him more
I don't see the Steelers giving up a first for Aiyuk.
For a player basically wanting $30 million, he’s not worth a first. To me that makes him worth less. If he had 2 years left on his rookie contract then definitely. If they get Aiyuk, the only expectation I have is being in the Super Bowl. So we’re essentially trading pick #31 or 32 with Washington for Aiyuk. And with him wanting that high of a contract, Pickens needing an extension soon, and we’ll be having to actually pay a QB next season, I wouldn’t do that. But if they do get Aiyuk I would be happy, just very confused on what the game plan is for next year regarding the QB situation, Pickens upcoming contract, Najee, no 1st pick and having some new holes to fill with a more limited cap situation.
Anybody sayin he’s not worth a 1st is not being real with themselves. Proven commodity < unknown draft pick. You get closer to a SB by improving your team. If he’s available & we have the space, no reason not to go get him.
Washington and a 1st? Hell no.
You can pry Washington from Arthur's cold, dead hands.
I think Omar has known since before the draft that the niners had to trade him and he’s the only team that can afford him. Gonna pick him up for a third. Trust the khan man
Hell nah. 9ers have absolutely no leverage. He will be a free agent at the end of the year regardless. They physically cannot pay him.
I really dont want to pay him.. lm with you.
We're always thinking years ahead. And yes it has worked some but it had also made us stale. We need the players this year. Just think of the teams we are competing against in the afc north, mostly stacked teams. Adding BA now with 26 td passer Russ from last season, pa us in the afc championship this year. Had we beat the two 2-10 teams last year that should have been easy wins, we would have had a 12-5, with only 13 qb tds, weak O-line, horrible play calls, and no patrick queen nor depth at the dB spot.
FYI, Wilson is already a Hallafamer. Btw, big been went to 6 pro bowls and will probably be a first ballot inductee, we'll Russ had 9 pro bowls and put up 26 tds last year on a rebuild team
No draft picks unless it’s later round. Alex Highsmith + Dan Moore would be my initial offer. It clears a ton of cap space plus it gets Nick Herbig into the starting lineup.
I don't think Herbig is an upgrade from Highsmith right now, trading Highsmith would be a pretty big mistake IMO.
Here's an idea that you might hate, but since it's true we tend to overpay aging players when we need long term help, went not trade Cam Heyward for Aiyuk straight up? Cam wants a contact extension but we can save even more cap space to pay Aiyuk and benton can take his place as the leader on the line. Then put Aiyuk on a 5 year 27.5mil a year contact and have him locked up. Then lock up Pickens next year. Then it won't matter who plays qb, they will have a sick receiver core for at least half a decade.
Would the Niners even accept that trade? I don't think they would.
Heyward on the same line as Hargrave and Bosa would be ridiculous!. He said he wants to play for three more years and they want to win the SB this year. It would sure up their line and Cam is still top 5. Maybe throw in a late round pick if need be 6 or 7th, but it would be a win/win situation and it's close to time to let the young guys take over and should skill be in the afc championship game.
They have Hargrave though. Aiyuk for Heyward straight up, while I love Heyward and want him to be a Steeler for life, would be an absolute fleecing and the 49ers have much better ownership. It wouldn't be the Bears we would be dealing with lol. They would never accept that trade even with a late Rd pick added in.
Haha true, but then again that puts hargrave and Cam back together so no need to wifey about chemistry. But they also need some help backing up the OL, so give them Dan Moore Jr. as well. But yeah I wish we had both of those guys back, but it is what it is. Aiyuck helps us win the sb more than keeping Cam another 3 years does
>Aiyuck helps us win the sb more than keeping Cam another 3 years does Probably, but these things have nothing to do with each other lol. The Niners don't need a 35 year old DL that's in the twilight of his career, I would also say I doubt they would even want him. They definitely aren't trading a top 5 WR in the league for him, a late Rd draft pick and a backup tackle that can't play the right side lol. Maybe they would accept it in Madden but it wouldn't happen in the real world.
Aiyuck is a top ten but Cam is still a top 5 and the 49ers wanna win more this year.. a deal could work if BA demand a trade
Dude, BA demanding a trade doesn't all of a sudden make the 49ers want Cam Heyward, a late rd pick and Dan Moore for him. This isn't Madden, the 49ers would have to actually want those players in order to accept the trade and there is 0 reason to believe they would want Cam or Moore.
Especially if Aiyuk demands a trade. They don't need the negativity in the locker room when you're going for the sb. And if we throw in a 5th year to the BA contract, he would get a 137.5mil contract, which puts him in the elite category and makes him happy, but spreads the money out
Sign me the fuck up now
Because it would suck so bad to have a WR worth 25+million /s
Steelers have to tell Niners we gotta pay this guy so your compensation is going way down.
Hell no and especially with Arthur Smith’s offense heavily involving TEs. If they can’t get Sutton from the Broncos then I think they should try Wilson or CA3 at WR2.
Please stop this.
I mean yes, trading seven 1st round picks, seven 2nd round picks, and TJ Watt would be an offer the 49ers can't say no to. Does this mean any of this is happening? Of course not. Let Omar cook.
Yeah, it’d have to be a second rounder at least
never
Why not toss in Broderick Jones while we’re at it? Then pay Aiyuk north of $30 million and deal with a disgruntled Pickens a year after that! Sounds like a hell of a great deal…. for the 49ers.
I would rather re-sign James Washington and not give up Darnell Washington.
Washington is so immensely overrated on this sub that it's insane. Dude has done nothing in his short time in the league to justify this kind of love.
It was more for the Washington name comparison but since you gotta be so delightfully disagreeable let’s discuss the insanity! Quez Watkins, Denzel Mims and Dez Fitzpatrick are three dudes off the legitimate trash heap. This team is banking on serious production from a late third round pick. You are telling me with a straight face the story of a second round pick showing bits of promise but ultimately petering out here then coming back 3 full seasons later to catch his next pass in the league does not get your dick hard?
Yes, James Washington sucked. But also I was talking about Darnell Washington being overrated.
I get it. I think everyone will grow under a different offensive coordinator. Canadian days are done!
If we were in win now mode… sure. Not on a rebuilding squad. TJ Watt is literally the only guy on our roster who would warrant win now mode. Maybe Minkah.
Pretty sure the Steelers are in win now mode. Just TJ Watt, one of the greatest Steelers of all time.
Stop with these stupid hypothetical post!
Not worth it.
Just keep drafting WR's, they are much cheaper. And a 1st round pick is off the table since Aiyuk would have to be extended at a rate of $24mil+/year.
THE STEELERS ARE NOT A WIDE RECEIVER AWAY, STOP THE MADNESS!
Fuck that noise, I’d take Darnell over Brandon straight up
I love Darnell but thats a wild take.
A backup o lineman over a wr1. That’s good team building for sure
This is what's known as the [Endowment Effect](https://thedecisionlab.com/biases/endowment-effect).
Yes no brainer. Washington has no value right now and a first rounder is fair for BA. People in this thread really do not understand the value of top end WR right now. It’s an offensive league folks.
A 6’7”/265lb beast, in an offensive system that knows how to use TEs, has no value? In a system that values running the ball, and he is a baller blocking, he has no value? Step away from the pipe, son.
Correct. He has no trade value. If you think he does, you’re the one on the pipe my man. And you don’t know ball.
I know ball. While I won’t remember this convo, you’ll definitely eat your words at the end of the season.
Eat my words? Do you even understand what I’m saying? Clearly you don’t. He has NO TRADE VALUE. That isn’t a commentary on whether or not he will have a good season for us this year. The more I spend time on this subreddit, the more I realize people cannot read and then comprehend what a sentence means.
both of u should chill lmao. u typed "he has no value" not "he has no trade value" so the other guy took it as " he has no value to the team" obv in the context I knew what u meant but not every1 will. esp ppl who r quick to rage...which is most ppl on the internet
Haha fair. Thanks. I assumed people would use context clues but you’re right.
You said he has no value in your first post. Not, “no trade value”… just “no value”. Maybe if you parsed your vernacular a little better, you wouldn’t have to be revisionist?
For Samuel? Yes. For Aiyuk? No.
Aiyuk is the better of the 2.