Several insiders have disputed earlier claims that a deal between the 49ers and Steelers was essentially done. Aiyuk's agent, through NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, clarified that "nothing is done" and urged the media to stop paying attention to everything they read on social media.
That said, a trade could still happen. The Steelers appear to be the frontrunners for Aiyuk's services. If the 49ers decide not to pay their star receiver top-dollar and opt to trade him, Aiyuk could influence his destination. He can notify interested teams that he has no intention of signing a long-term deal if he doesn't like the location. This stance seemingly derailed a potential trade to the New England Patriots.
The Steelers are an appealing destination to Aiyuk, and Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo believe the receiver will get his wish.
"We're inching our way there," Garafolo said on NFL Network, per Steelers Depot. "If you're asking me how this thing is eventually going to end, I believe it is going to end with Brandon Aiyuk traded to the Steelers, but we're not there yet until we're there. I can't tell you for sure that that's the way it's gonna go because this thing has taken a couple of turns to get to this point."
Rapoport agreed with his NFL Network colleague.
"It does seem like the eventual outcome, not current outcome, but the eventual outcome is Brandon Aiyuk playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the 49ers moving on for some draft picks, which is fascinating from the Steelers' standpoint," Rapoport added.
San Francisco drafted Aiyuk from Arizona State with the No. 25 overall pick in 2020. Last season, he had 75 receptions for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns in 16 starts, playing 82 percent of the offensive snaps, per Pro Football Reference.