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Steelers Could Add Cheaper WR

Brandon Aiyuk might be out of the Pittsburgh Steelers' price range.

Stephen Thompson

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) reacts to his touchdown score during the first
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) reacts to his touchdown score during the first / Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Unio / USA
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PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers have been linked to disgruntled 49ers star Brandon Aiyuk for months and the connection has only grown stronger as the offseason progresses but one person is not convinced.

Steelers beat writer Mark Kaboly of The Athletic believes they will not look to land Aiyuk and his $14 million salary, and search for a more affordable way to fill their void at wide reciever.

"I think they'll go something a little cheaper," Kaboly said on 93.7 The Fan this week. "Or at least try to."

"Cheaper" has been the name of the game for the Steelers at wide receiver so far this offseason. They traded $18 million man Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers and replaced him with free agent signings Van Jefferson, Quez Watkins and Cordarrelle Patterson for a combined $3.55 million.

Kaboly is concerned about what it would take to keep Aiyuk and George Pickens - whose rookie contract expires at the end of the 2025 season - in Pittsburgh long term. Aiyuk is an unrestricted free agent next spring and will command a massive amount of money if he continues to produce at the same level he has over the past two seasons.

"The key is do you want to be committed to a guy for $23, $24 million ... and then in a year from now pay George Pickens very similar to that money?" Kaboly said.

A cheaper option likely means drafting a wideout within the first three rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft. This year's class is loaded with receiver talent but the Steelers would have to use a premium pick to get someone who can start opposite Pickens. Free agent and trade options are dwindling and the Steelers need someone who can at worst be a No. 2 option.

Kaboly isn't optimistic the Aiyuk rumors will come to fruition, but he can't say they're impossible either.

"I would say very limited but once again, I'm not going to rule anything out," he said aboutt he possibility of an Aiyuk trade. "We all should've learned over the past 18 months that anything is possible."

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper. He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press. During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general. 

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