Well, here we go again.
After two years of offseason speculation connecting the Steelers to San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, the rumor mill is once again churning.
Longtime NFL reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala joined CBS’ sports radio, 93.7 The Fan this past week and was asked about the possibility of Pittsburgh pursuing Aiyuk should he become available.
“I don’t think he’ll be available for next to nothing, but sure, if he is, why not,” Kinkhabwala said. “I mean, why wouldn’t you?”
Kinkhabwala
also addressed Aiyuk’s strained relationship with the 49ers organization, which has become a talking point throughout the offseason.
“He made a point of saying this isn’t the first time this has happened in that building and that that is indeed a cliquish building,” Kinkhabwala said. “And if you don’t necessarily fall into the right clique, then it can be a not-ideal situation. Or if you don’t want to play a certain game within the game, it may not be ideal, and that gives me pause because it is somebody who is there and only to say we don’t know the whole of that story.”
While Aiyuk remains a talented player when healthy, durability has become a legitimate concern. The former first-round pick suffered a torn ACL and MCL during the 2024 season, an injury that limited him to just seven games. Prior to that, Aiyuk dealt with shoulder and core injuries throughout his career and has missed time in multiple seasons. Although he has shown Pro Bowl-level production when on the field, his injury history could make teams hesitant to part with significant assets.
From Pittsburgh’s perspective, a move appears very unlikely.
The Steelers already made a splash at wide receiver this offseason by acquiring Michael Pittman Jr. to pair with DK Metcalf. They also invested a third-round pick in former Alabama standout Germie Bernard, giving the offense another young weapon to develop alongside its veteran playmakers.
With Pittman, Metcalf, Bernard, and a handful of returning contributors already on the roster, Pittsburgh appears well-positioned at the position. Adding Aiyuk would undoubtedly raise the talent level, but it would also come with financial considerations and injury-related risk.
Of course, if San Francisco’s asking price were to plummet, the conversation could change. General managers rarely ignore opportunities to acquire proven talent at a bargain.
Still, for now, the latest round of Steelers-Aiyuk speculation feels more like offseason chatter than a realistic possibility.
