Oct 9, 2022; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin enters the field before a game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

The San Francisco 49ers are reportedly interested in one of their star wide receivers before the 2024 season. Before free agency started, rumors were floating that the 49ers could trade Deebo Samuel or Brandon Aiyuk to help alleviate cap space concerns.

Brandon Aiyuk sent Mike Tomlin a message

Aiyuk appeared frustrated with his lack of targets in the 49ers’ loss in the Super Bowl. Per Daniel Yerushalmi with GH, Aiyuk sent a message to Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin that got NFL fans’ attention about a possible trade:

This all started on Tuesday afternoon after the San Francisco 49ers star wide receiver  Aiyuk posted this message on X:

@CoachTomlin they saying we twins. What you think ? 👀

— BA (@THE2ERA) March 19, 2024

It is note worthy that this is the first post by Aiyuk in almost a year, which very well could be just a coincidence. But many NFL fans are not buying that all and think this is a call for a trade. After the Steelers traded one of their top receivers, they may be in business to go and get another guy for Wilson in his first year with the team.

There could be more smoke on the trade front. The 49ers said they wanted to keep Aiyuk for the long term this offseason, but that doesn’t mean they’re not scoping out other options.

The San Francisco 49ers are interested in trading Aiyuk

Per Matt Barrows with The Athletic, the 49ers will listen to trade offers for Aiyuk before the draft. Here’s Barrows’ response to a question about the 49ers potentially trading their star wide receiver this spring:

“Yes, that’s my sense. Just go back two years to when Deebo Samuel was agitating for a trade. The 49ers kept their phone lines open before, and especially during, the draft to see what kind of offers Samuel would bring.

They got draft-day proposals from the New York Jets and Detroit Lions, but the 49ers didn’t budge. They were solid offers (especially the Jets’) but the 49ers needed to be blown away to let go of Samuel, who was coming off his incredible 2021 campaign.

I think a similar scenario is in play for Aiyuk, who has excellent chemistry with Brock Purdy: The 49ers will listen to offers but it will take something monumental to let him go.”

The Pittsburgh Steelers need Diontae Johnson’s replacement

The Steelers need another wide receiver after trading Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers last week. They’ve been linked to Tyler Boyd this offseason. But Aiyuk could be the type of player the Steelers want to build around in an offense where they have questions at quarterback. He certainly helped Brock Purdy come along.