Brandon Aiyuk’s agent denies NFL insider’s report on 49ers WR’s $120,000,000 contract - “That’s factually inaccurate”
Brandon Aiyuk finally got his payday on Thursday, extending with the San Francisco 49ers for four years and $120,000,000 million. But according to Adam Schefter, it had been available to him the entire month, when trade rumors surrounding him surfaced.
The notion was denied by the All-Pro wide receiver's agent Ryan Williams:
"That's factually inaccurate"
Before he signed his extension, Aiyuk was very nearly traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for second and third-round picks in a three-team deal. It would have also involved the Denver Broncos, who would have given the 49ers Courtland Sutton in exchange for the third-round pick.
However, the Broncos rejected the offer, citing their need for Sutton to help develop rookie quarterback Bo Nix, who was named their starter last week.
Steelers insider claims trade for Brandon Aiyuk was never expected to be done
Speaking of the Steelers, insider Gerry Dulac made a bold claim: that the front office led by general manager Omar Kahn did not want Brandon Aiyuk on the team.
He posts that the extension was something that they had been expecting to happen:
USA Today's Curtis Popejoy calls this notion "curious," given the Steelers' dearth of talent at WR after trading Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers. Beside George Pickens, the next-best receiver is Van Jefferson with 113 receptions for 1,600 yards and ten touchdowns.
The other three wideouts on their roster are undersized slot-type players: Scotty Miller, Calvin Austin, and rookie Roman Wilson. That will leave tight end Pat Freiermuth as their de facto WR2; but it is highly doubtful that he can match, let alone surpass, Pickens' production.
With Aiyuk off the table, general manager Omar Khan could be on the lookout for a more credible WR2. But it is not as if he has a dearth of options from a still-large pool of free agents.
Jarvis Landry, for instance, tried out for the Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets in the offseason and was also linked to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Michael Thomas is also unsigned after being ditched by the New Orleans Saints, and so is Julio Jones after his stint with the Philadelphia Eagles.