The Pittsburgh Steelers have made waves this offseason by taking an aggressive stance in the trade and free agent market. The team is now making news for a rumored trade that didn't happen. The Steelers nearly made a deal with the San Francisco 49ers for wide receivers Deebo Samuel or Brandon Aiyuk, per Steelers Depot.
Former NFL General Manager Michael Lombardi is making the claim, per the outlet. Lombardi is saying Steelers GM Omar Khan made a move to try and grab either Samuel or Aiyuk on Draft Day. It is a rumor, but doesn't sound too far-fetched. The Steelers needed some help in the receiver room this offseason, as the team parted ways with Diontae Johnson. Samuel and Aiyuk are both reliable pass catchers, so it makes sense the Steelers may have made a run for one of them.
A deal obviously didn't come through. No further information was revealed as to why a potential trade fell through. It's also uncertain who the Steelers would have given up for one of those players. Lombardi seems to believe there's now no chance Samuel or Aiyuk leave San Francisco.
“They want both their players on the team unless they get a really good offer,” Lombardi said, per Steelers Depot.
Samuel and Aiyuk both had productive seasons in 2023, as the 49ers made it to the Super Bowl. Samuel finished the campaign with 892 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns. Aiyuk had a career-high season in receiving yards, with 1,342. He also recorded 75 receptions, and caught 7 touchdown passes. San Francisco lost in the NFL championship to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Steelers offseason moves
The Steelers made some big changes this offseason, even without that rumored trade with the 49ers. Pittsburgh overhauled their quarterback room by signing Russell Wilson from the Denver Broncos, and Justin Fields from the Chicago Bears. The two are expected to compete heavily this spring for the starting job, with Wilson expected to get the edge.
The Steelers also placed a heavy emphasis in the NFL Draft on getting offensive linemen to help out their new gunslingers. The Steelers drafted offensive tackle Troy Fautanu from Washington in the first round, then grabbed center Zach Frazier from West Virginia in the second round. The squad also drafted another offensive lineman in the fourth round, in South Dakota State's Mason McCormick. This additional protection should surely help their new quarterbacks.
The Steelers did use a draft pick on a receiver. Michigan football's Roman Wilson was taken by Pittsburgh in the third-round of the draft. Wilson is reportedly turning heads at the team's OTAs, per Steelers Now. While Wilson won't be expected to carry the load in the receiver position, he will be certainly looked at to make a mark in his rookie campaign.
Pittsburgh is looking for another run to the Super Bowl. It's been more than a decade since the team last appeared in the game, despite having six Super Bowl championships. Pittsburgh lost in the 2023 AFC Playoffs, to the Buffalo Bills.
