The San Francisco 49ers and Brandon Aiyuk have finally agreed on a contract extension but the 49ers were quite close to trading their wide receiver. San Francisco was willing to make the deal but only if they received a top-flight wide receiver in return.
They approached the Denver Broncos about helping them there, according to NFL insider Dianna Russini of The Athletic.
The 49ers only were willing to trade Brandon Aiyuk if they could get a top-flight WR to replace him. They offered a third-round pick to Denver for Courtland Sutton, and then would’ve dealt Aiyuk to the Steelers, but the Broncos declined the offer.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) August 29, 2024
So, he stays in SF.
The Broncos turned down a third-round pick for their No. 1 wide receiver Courtland Sutton, which negated a trade in which the Pittsburgh Steelers would have acquired Aiyuk.
What is left out of that news is when the Broncos were offered this trade. If it was earlier this summer, it was solid value for Sutton. If it was recently, such as after the team cut down to 53 players, it's understandable as to why the team would say no to that deal.
The Broncos kept only five wide receivers on the roster, two of which are rookies. They also chose to part ways with veteran Tim Patrick, a move that not many Broncos fans loved.
Broncos took a top passing game weapon away from Russell Wilson
Had this trade gone down, the Broncos would have been out their top wide receiver from last season and Aiyuk would have been in Pittsburgh catching passes from Russell Wilson.
Sutton and Jerry Jeudy were on the trade block seemingly all of last season and the Broncos agreed to send Jeudy to the Cleveland Browns in March. But they didn't feel comfortable getting rid of Sutton, who caught 10 touchdown passes a season ago, even for a premium draft pick.
It had been reported that the Steelers had agreed to the framework of a deal to acquire Aiyuk. If this was the same deal, the Broncos pulled the plug.
MORE BRONCOS CONTENT
Multiple Broncos find new teams following release
Broncos fill practice squad, sign former Chargers tight end
Following release, Samaje Perine lands in the worst spot possible
