As before, a blockbuster trade involving the Pittsburgh Steelers is being linked to 49ers players Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel.
After trading Pro Bowl wide receiver Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers, the Pittsburgh Steelers still have a big problem to solve before training camp. While George Pickens is certain to start at wide receiver, there is still a lot of uncertainty about who will play opposite the 23-year-old Pickens. Recent reports suggest that the Steelers may find their answer in a couple of the San Francisco 49ers’ standout wideouts.
Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk to the Pittsburgh Steelers?
With training camp almost coming, The Athletic has released a thorough article outlining the main problems that each of the 32 teams is facing. Analyst Mark Kaboly believes that the Steelers must address the gap at wide receiver, and a blockbuster deal with the Niners might be the solution:
“With the expectation that they would take a chance on a big-time receiver in either free agency or the trade market to play alongside George Pickens, the Steelers dealt Diontae Johnson during the offseason and then created cap space before the draft. The Steelers enter training camp with a lot of questions surrounding the WR2 position because nothing ever materialized. They’ll permit Van Jefferson, Quez Watkins, and Calvin to be in the gang.
In camp, Austin, Roman Wilson, Scotty Miller, and Marquez Callaway compete fiercely, but the winner will not significantly stop clubs from bracketing Pickens. It is unlikely that either of the aforementioned receivers would suddenly develop into a reliable second threat for Russell Wilson, which is where a trade for one of the 49ers’ receivers, Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel, might happen, Kaboly wrote.
There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the respective futures of these two stars in San Francisco, so it would probably be in the best interest of the Steelers to act now while they still have the opportunity. It goes without saying, though, that Pittsburgh will need to muster a sizable trade package for either of these established receivers. Aiyuk and Samuel have previously been linked to the Steelers.