Many Pittsburgh Steelers fans have eagerly supported the idea of trading for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk following news of a contract dispute. Aiyuk, who is in the final year of his rookie contract, has reportedly requested a yearly salary of around $30 million, while the 49ers have offered about $26 million.
That is a substantial amount of money, especially for the Steelers. Pittsburgh recently signed its largest free agent contract in history with Patrick Queen, a three-year, $41 million deal. The $30 million for Aiyuk doesn’t even account for the trade compensation required, likely at least one first-round pick.
Desperate fans point to the team’s past trade for Minkah Fitzpatrick, arguing this situation is similar. However, Steelers reporter Christopher Carter from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette disagrees. On a recent episode of his podcast, Locked on Steelers, Carter explained why the two scenarios are different.
Carter says the Steelers expected Fitzpatrick to be one of the best safeties in the league, and they were right. Despite being used incorrectly last season, Carter believes that Fitzpatrick will bounce back, lead the league in interceptions, and be a top safety again.
Another issue with comparing the two trades is that Aiyuk’s production level does not match other players earning that kind of money. Paying him $30 million annually is comparable to Tyreek Hill’s contract and exceeds the salaries of Cooper Kupp, Davante Adams, and DK Metcalf.
No one is saying that Brandon Aiyuk’s the best at the wide receiver position, and he’d be asking for more than Minkah Fitzpatrick. If you’re not that level of wide receiver like Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, Tyreek Hill, Cooper Kupp, if you’re not in that category, and I don’t think he’s in that category, he hasn’t been a superstar wide receiver. He’s a very good one, but I think this is where a lot of teams historically make mistakes; they pay number one money or super elite money for good to very good talent.”
He cites two former Steelers as examples: Antwaan Randle El and Bryant McFadden. Both performed well for the Steelers, usually as second or third-string players, and then left for other teams that offered them first-string money. After not finding success elsewhere, they eventually returned to Pittsburgh on team-friendly deals.
The Steelers currently have George Pickens slated as their top receiver, but there is uncertainty surrounding the rest of the receiving corps. This includes Roman Wilson, Calvin Austin III, Quez Watkins, Scotty Miller, and Van Jefferson.
The Steelers Love To Grown Their Own
Pittsburgh has a reputation for discovering and nurturing talent among young receivers. As such, it deviates from their usual approach to commit to a high-priced contract for a marquee name—not just on offense.
Carter emphasized that the team thrives on developing talent internally, which aligns with their preferred strategy. When making such decisions, considerations include on-field performance and how well the player fits into the team culture. This was evident with Melvin Ingram, a free agent signing who initially accepted Alex Highsmith starting over him but later requested a trade when the season began. Head Coach Mike Tomlin noted this incident as an example of why they prioritize drafting and developing their players.
The status of the wide receiver room will remain a topic of conversation until the current room can be evaluated at training camp. What do you think about the Aiyuk trade? Is it wrong to compare it to Fitzpatrick? Click to comment below.
