Steelers' trade offers for 49ers' Brandon Aiyuk now leaked

The Steelers have reportedly offered Dan Moore Jr., James Daniels, Calvin Austin III and a second-round pick for Aiyuk. The situation is complicated — although Aiyuk does not have a no-trade clause, he has some say in whether he accepts a new contract from his potential new team.

The 49ers are losing leverage in negotiations, especially since the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots are competitors for a potential trade. However, Aiyuk is reportedly not interested in the contracts or playing for those teams.

The 49ers are seeking at least one of the following from any trade involving Aiyuk: George Pickens, Pat Freiermuth and a first-round pick. The Steelers are unwilling to part with Pickens or Freiermuth, as their primary goal in pursuing Aiyuk is to strengthen their weak receiving corps. Trading away either Pickens or Freiermuth would undermine this objective. This could be why the trade discussions have stalled in this complex scenario.

The Steelers appear willing to part with Austin, likely to preserve more valuable assets and because acquiring Aiyuk would be a worthwhile trade-off. 

Could Steelers add a first-round pick to end the Brandon Aiyuk saga?

One potential compromise could involve swapping the second-round pick for a first-round pick, with sending Moore, Daniels and Austin. This could potentially persuade the 49ers to proceed with the trade, but it would require the Steelers to give up more than they are currently comfortable with.

The Aiyuk trade rumors have been prominent all offseason, and adding him to the Steelers’ roster would create one of the most dynamic wide receiver duos in the league alongside Pickens. The coming days will be crucial to see if a resolution between Aiyuk and the 49ers is reached.