Reporter shares what Steelers could offer 49ers for WR Brandon Aiyuk

The Pittsburgh Steelers were first linked with San Francisco 49ers star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk before this year's draft and long before he officially requested a trade amid his desire for a contract extension.

It's widely believed the Niners won't trade Aiyuk unless they can receive help for the upcoming season in return. For a piece published Friday, Steelers reporter Mark Kaboly of The Athletic suggested that Pittsburgh could offer pass-rusher Alex Highsmith and offensive tackle Dan Moore Jr. to the 49ers in exchange for Aiyuk and a sixth-round draft pick.

"Highsmith signed a four-year, $68M deal last year that runs through the 2027 season, and he has 21.5 sacks over the past two seasons, the 12th-most in the league," Kaboly explained. "...The Steelers could sweeten the deal by adding Moore, who has 49 career starts in three seasons but is in a contract year and has become expendable with the team drafting two first-round tackles the past two years."

There's plenty to unpack here.

For starters, it's unknown if the 49ers would accept this deal and/or if Pittsburgh would make such an offer before Week 1. Steelers insider Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said last week that the club's alleged need for a No. 1 receiver with 2022 second-round draft pick George Pickens on the roster has "been overblown a little bit because of the run-first philosophy that they're gonna operate with under Arthur Smith as the offensive coordinator."

According to Matthew Marczi of Steelers Depot, Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette mentioned during a Thursday appearance on Pittsburgh sports radio station 93.7 The Fan that the Steelers are "willing to go into the season with the guys that they have if the price is too steep" to land a big-name receiver such as Aiyuk or Davante Adams of the Las Vegas Raiders.

Any team would have to trade for Aiyuk and sign the unhappy 26-year-old to an expensive extension, as he is in the final year of his rookie contract .

Kaboly acknowledged that "it’s highly unlikely, if not out of the question, that the Steelers would even consider moving Highsmith." In short, Pittsburgh fans shouldn't get their hopes up about the club acquiring Aiyuk, with San Francisco able to wait him out since he's signed through 2024 and can be retained for 2025 via the franchise tag.