Does Aiyuk Deal Stain Steelers, Khan's Offseason?

The Brandon Aiyuk saga finally came to a close on Thursday when the San Francisco 49ers extended their star receiver to a four-year, $120 million deal .

For both parties, this deal is a win. San Francisco gets to keep its best receiver in town for the duration of quarterback Brock Purdy’s rookie contract (and then some). Aiyuk gets top-five receiver money, an achiever his talent backs as much as the market.

For the Pittsburgh Steelers and general manager Omar Khan, though, it was an offseason-defining defeat.

Khan made the bold move this spring of trading away veteran starter Diontae Johnson for Donte Jackson in a desperate attempt at help in the secondary. After four consecutive seasons of at least 700 yards (with 25 touchdowns in that span), he was the most proven member of the receiving corps, even if he had passed the “No. 1” torch to George Pickens.

The deal, while justified, left Pittsburgh in dire need of a complement to Pickens.

Aiyuk was the most ideal complement on the market. His raw separation skills are among the league’s best and his production – back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns, 15 touchdowns in two years – caught up to his talent.

Khan went all in on Aiyuk. To an extent, it was the right call to make. Trading for an extending Aiyuk (especially if it didn’t cost exorbitant draft capital) would be the easiest way to acquire an elite talent, setting up the passing offense for this season and whoever the long-term answer is at quarterback.

But his attempt to lure Aiyuk to Western Pennsylvania dragged on and left the team without a Plan B out wide. No proven starter was brought in with the idea of taking a back seat should a trade be made.

The Steelers’ first two picks were spent on offensive lineman. While entirely acceptable, good-process selections, they meant the receiver spot would have to wait until Round 3 to be addressed, putting the burden on Michigan receiver Roman Wilson to see significant playing time. Pittsburgh also could have pivoted to a separate trade, offering a mid-to-late-round pick for Aiyuk insurance.

Related: Steelers WR Trade Rumors Shift From Aiyuk to ... Metchie III?

Instead, the allure of Aiyuk took priority over the more likely outcome – that San Francisco would come to its senses and the receiver would continue to compete for a Super Bowl – and the Steelers were left in the dust.

Pivoting to an unproven receiving corps and practice squad selections , Pittsburgh will find a way to scrape together some level competency in the passing attack. But make no mistake, this was a preventable mess of Khan’s making, and it has actively made the path forward more difficult.