Ian Rapoport: Brandon Aiyuk trade to Steelers 'just takes the 49ers to say yes' amid extension talks

The Brandon Aiyuk situation took another major turn on Tuesday when NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported a deal is in place between the San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers. Aiyuk has been searching for a new contract, as well, and Rapoport said Pittsburgh is in position to put something together.

However, there’s one big hold-up when it comes to finalizing the deal. San Francisco has to agree to it – and the franchise hasn’t yet.

Rapoport shared another update on where things stand on Aiyuk’s future. The reason the 49ers are waiting, he said, is because they want to keep their star receiver in the Bay Area and re-started contract talks last week. As a result, even though a deal is on the table, Rapoport said San Francisco is playing a waiting game.

“Here’s where it stands, after talking to several sources informed of this situation,” Rapoport said on The Insiders Tuesday night. “The 49ers and the Steelers do, in fact, have a deal to trade Brandon Aiyuk from the 49ers to the Steelers. And in any other situation – literally – that would be major news. Except for this situation. There are many other parts of this. By the way, I should also mention the Steelers are also in a very good place for the Brandon Aiyuk contract extension if he got traded to the Steelers. And again, that deal is in place. It just takes the 49ers to say, ‘Yes, we are doing it,’ which they have not done. I want to repeat, the 49ers have not done [that] yet.

“They have been waiting because they are also dual-paths – same player, dual-paths – they are also trying to get a long-term extension done with Brandon Aiyuk. They have made a big-time offer to him. It is not something he has accepted, it is not good enough. That is where it stands – with the deal for the Steelers over here, the deal for Brandon Aiyuk’s staying with the 49ers over here and the 49ers, Aiyuk and the Steelers all right around here [in the middle] unsure of where they’re gonna go. That’s it.”

Mike Garafolo: 49ers have ‘one final hurdle’ in Brandon Aiyuk talks

The Steelers have been seen as a potential landing spot for Aiyuk for some time, and NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo called Pittsburgh his “preferred destination” if a deal comes together. Aiyuk also reportedly rejected a trade to the Cleveland Browns, centered around Amari Cooper back to San Francisco, as the 49ers ramp up their efforts to keep him.

But a return to San Francisco has remained in the cards, as well. In fact, according to Garafolo, the two sides aren’t as far apart as it might seem, especially after Aiuk’s comment on an Instagram post over the weekend.

“You talked about that Instagram post the other night, Tom, where Aiyuk said there are two options, let’s just pick one. I dug into that a little bit, and what I’ve been told is that Brandon Aiyuk would prefer to stay with the 49ers and has always preferred to stay with the 49ers all things being equal,” Garafolo said. “Now, they haven’t been equal, but they did make that offer. In fact, both sides sent proposals within the last couple days, week or so.

“But the 49ers’ number has gotten better than what it was previously, and they have – from my understanding – they have agreed on a lot of the main points of the deal. Their offers are in line. But it just 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, we can put this situation behind and the Niners can put it behind them.”

Of course, San Francisco is no stranger to the Hail Mary-type contract offer. It happened with Deebo Samuel just last year. This time, however, Garafolo said it might take more of a miracle.

“Look, they did the fourth-quarter comeback with Deebo Samuel before when he had the trade request. This would be like, I don’t know, Montana to John Taylor,” Garafolo said. “That kind of last-second type comeback.

“But it can happen. It has happened before. … We’ve talked about leverage, the ball is in whose court. As far as Aiyuk is concerned, it sounds like the ball is in the 49ers’ court and he’s hoping that they can just make the final adjustment and get this thing done and stay with the Niners. We’ll see.”