Steelers WR Trade Talks Fading

The Pittsburgh Steelers are quieting their trade talks.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) reacts to his touchdown score during the first / Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Unio / USA

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers are seemingly set to add their next wide receiver through the NFL Draft. After weeks of searching for a trade, it appears they're changing course, dimming their efforts to add a veteran in a move.

After talks of exploring a trade for San Francisco 49ers' Brandon Aiyuk, the team may have had their chances ripped out by general manager John Lynch, who said the team is looking to extend their star wideout instead of moving him.

"I was just with Mike Tomlin at the Michigan pro day and Mike coached me so we're very close and he was like 'Bro, what's going on?'" Lynch said. "I promise you nothing's going on there. We're actively talking with Brandon, trying to figure something out and, you know, we always talk, we have a good history of working with the guy as we want to get something done and it takes two sides. So can we do that? We'll see."

Since, it appears the Steelers are moving on from the idea. In his weekly chat, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ray Fittipaldo said those talks have started to fade as of late.

The trade talks have quieted," he wrote.

If it's not for Aiyuk, it's tough to imagine where the Steelers would go for a wideout. Some have mentioend Justin Jefferson and Stefon Diggs, but both appear out of the reach of Pittsburgh's capabilities.

Next will be the NFL Draft, where the Steelers will explore the first few rounds. Head coach Mike Tomlin mentioned more than once in recent interviews that the class is deep, and it should be expected they land a wideout at some point.

"The draft is probably unusually deep at that position and has been for the last several years," Tomlin said. "I just think that receivers and those that cover them come probably a little bit more ready in today’s game than maybe in year’s past. I think it’s the evolution of seven-on-seven football for high school kids. I just think their development, the skills relative to their positions come with a higher floor. Much like AAU Basketball probably transformed basketball. I think seven-on-seven has had a significant impact on the passing game and those that participate in it. And I think that’s why there’s always a lot of wide outs that appear to be game ready, corners that appear to be game ready. They’re playing football and working on skills relative to football over the course of a 12-month calendar during significant developmental age groups now."

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