"I'm told it's pretty much down to the Steelers and 49ers, him staying in San Francisco at this point," Fowler said on SportsCenter. "I was told around Thursday the 49ers intensified their efforts to try to re-sign him after some stagnant weeks where he was sitting around waiting to be traded, essentially."
NFL insider Jordan Schultz first reported that the 49ers had restarted contract negotiations with Aiyuk after the receiver rejected potential trades to the New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns, expressing a lack of interest in playing for either team. Aiyuk holds some leverage in the situation, as he can refuse to sign a new contract with any team, making a trade less likely.
The Pittsburgh Steelers remain interested in Aiyuk, but their trade package may be lacking. While the Browns and Patriots could offer immediate-impact players, such as Cleveland's Amari Cooper, the Steelers either don't have similar assets or are unwilling to part with key players.
Fowler notes that Aiyuk's choices now seem to be hoping the Steelers improve their trade offer or play for the 49ers in 2024.
"It was really a pay-me-or-trade-me situation for Aiyuk, so maybe they're actually going to pay him in San Francisco because they looked at all the options," Fowler continued. "They even worked around the phones, tried to see who else is out there with other teams, tried to get a receiver in a trade. Looks like they might just stay put. We'll see what intensifies there. Very fluid."