The NFL trade deadline came and went for the Pittsburgh Steelers and they did not add a wide receiver. But this isn't to say they won't still sign a veteran at some point down the stretch. One name being tossed around is San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. He was reinstated by the NFL and now has a two-week roster exemption. If we assume the 49ers aren't planning to keep Aiyuk, he could be a low risk/high reward option for the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to Steelers beat writer Ray Fittipaldo.
“I know he struggled," Fittipaldo said. "I know he acted very strangely with the 49ers. If you bring him in and he’s a bad apple, you just cut him after a week or two.”
Cost is really the only issue here. If the Steelers could add Aiyuk for
a league-minimum deal, they should absolutely do it. When healthy and focused, Aiyuk absolutely adds an element to the Steelers offense they aren't getting from DK Metcalf or anyone else on the team. Aiyuk is a career 14.6-yards-per-catch guy and would give Pittsburgh a man-beater who can pop the top off an opposing defense.
Keep in mind, this same argument can be made about a guy like Tyreek Hill. A talented guy with some red flags who is no risk if the team doesn't overpay.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Should the Steelers take a shot on Brandon Aiyuk?
