The Brandon Aiyuk saga is lastly over, and whereas the tip outcome won’t be satisfying for followers of the Pittsburgh Steelers, at the very least it clears issues up for them. For the San Francisco 49ers, although, issues won’t be so easy. Giving Aiyuk such an enormous contract places them in a troublesome spot financially. They have been already pressed for cap house, and now, in response to insider Michael Silver, they might be pressured to half methods with receiver Deebo Samuel sooner reasonably than later.
Taking to Twitter after the Aiyuk deal was introduced, Silver laid out how he thinks issues will play out with Samuel.
“The 49ers will get overtures concerning Deebo Samuel between now and the commerce deadline,” Silver wrote. “Proper now, extremely unlikely they’d commerce him. Early November? Is determined by lots of issues.”
Silver appears to be saying that the 49ers might commerce Aiyuk across the commerce deadline this 12 months, which might be odd. The rationale the 49ers fought so laborious to maintain Aiyuk is as a result of they consider they’ll win a Tremendous Bowl now. Nevertheless, if the start of the season goes poorly for the 49ers, maybe they may look to maneuver on from Samuel earlier than the offseason.
It simply makes extra sense financially for the 49ers to maneuver on from Samuel after this season with Aiyuk now below contract. It might save them a ton of cash, and it retains them from having to present him a brand new deal. He’ll be a free agent after the 2025 season and can seemingly need an extension earlier than subsequent 12 months’s season begins.
The 49ers additionally drafted receiver Ricky Pearsall within the first spherical this 12 months, giving them the pliability to maneuver on from Samuel quickly. If certainly one of their key gamers suffers a critical harm or they simply fully disintegrate, Samuel may very well be on the transfer. He wouldn’t be low cost, nevertheless it may take much less to amass him in a commerce than it could have with Aiyuk.
The Steelers nonetheless aren’t in a superb place with their receiving corps, and they need to in all probability make an addition earlier than the season begins, but when they’ve a stable begin to the season, perhaps they may discover a commerce for Samuel. There are lots of transferring items in that situation, so it isn’t even near a positive factor, however it might be an choice.
Both method, the Aiyuk saga is over, however the Samuel saga might solely simply be beginning. If he doesn’t get traded earlier than the deadline, he’ll in all probability get dealt in the course of the offseason. If the Steelers don’t enhance at receiver between every now and then, rumors will seemingly run wild about them concentrating on Samuel subsequent 12 months. If this enterprise with Aiyuk has taught anybody something, although, it’s that nothing is a accomplished deal till it’s really accomplished.
