There is no shortage of NFL insiders willing to throw out what they are hearing about the situation between the San Francisco 49ers, Brandon Aiyuk, and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Reports have varied, from claims that a deal with the Steelers is close to suggestions that the 49ers and Aiyuk "aren't far apart" on a contract extension.
However, one well-connected NFL insider, Benjamin Allbright, believes Aiyuk will remain with the 49ers in 2024, possibly with a new deal. What leads him to this conclusion?
"It's my opinion that the Niners never wanted to trade Brandon Aiyuk, and Brandon Aiyuk never wanted to go anywhere else," Allbright said Wednesday on 95.7 The Game.
He suggests that the offseason drama has just been part of the negotiation process, with both sides trying to leverage their positions.
"My lean is that Aiyuk ultimately takes the Niners' offer," Allbright continued. "We'll see. I know that the Steelers have been interested in Aiyuk since dating back to March, when they were trying to get him to pair with [WR George] Pickens. The Niners aren't real happy with the compensation back. I mean, I guess they sort of have a framework in place there, but they aren't real happy with the compensation back. And what would be that deal, anyway? So my lean is that he comes back to San Francisco."
A sketchy report last week claimed that a deal between the 49ers and Steelers was essentially done, with Aiyuk heading to the AFC team. Allbright also shared some thoughts on that.
"What I will say is that, at no point last week, despite internet rumors with dog avatars or whatever else you want to believe in, was any deal done between the Steelers and the Niners," Allbright said. "There was no deal done between the two of them. None, zero, nada. So anybody reporting otherwise, full of crap, and you should quit listening to them."
Regarding the negotiations between the 49ers and Aiyuk, the team reportedly has an offer on the table for their star wideout. Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported that the two sides aren't as far apart on a deal as some might think. However, the ball is in Aiyuk's court, as the Steelers have also presented their own offer.
"From my understanding, they (the 49ers and Aiyuk) have agreed on a lot of the main points of the deal," Garafolo said. "Their offers are in line, but it sounds like there's just one more thing that needs to be ironed out. And if that thing gets ironed out, Brandon Aiyuk signs the deal, he stays with the 49ers, he drops the trade request, and finally, [he] can put this situation behind him, and the Niners can put it behind [them]."