The Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers are dominating the NFL headlines as the first full week of preseason ramps up. No one is quite sure what the definitive hold up is when it comes to wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. It’s known that he requested a trade and that, apparently, the Steel City is his preferred destination. Overall compensation for a deal has not been agreed upon which has led to the saga dragging out much longer than anyone anticipated. General Managers Omar Khan and John Lynch are likely still on the phones on Friday morning ahead of Pittsburgh’s first preseason contest.

It was reported not too long ago that the Steelers’ brass was confident that either Aiyuk, DK Metcalf or Tyreek Hill would be playing in Pittsburgh come the 2024 regular season. Hill can be ruled out after signing a new deal with the Miami Dolphins and everyone is aware that Aiyuk is still able to be acquired, but not much talk has surrounded Metcalf. However, there may be an overall new piece to the puzzle as drama for the Dallas Cowboys began to heat up on Thursday.

Owner Jerry Jones stated on the record that he feels no urgency to get done a deal with star pass-catcher CeeDee Lamb. The receiver made it known how he felt about those comments.

Maybe the post on social media is a playful effort to stir the pot and a deal is already about to be agreed to, or it’s completely possible that Lamb is the next blossoming star to request a trade. This could provide a whole new element to the Steelers’ attempts to acquire Aiyuk. If Aiyuk really does want to be in Pittsburgh, and the 49ers are trying to bait Khan into giving up too much, Lamb may have just solved the problem.

The NFL is a game of cat and mouse when it comes to possible deals like this dragging out for a long period of time. Khan has an opportunity to use Jones’ comments and Lamb’s response as a new negotiating avenue. Simply put: Lynch and the 49ers better come to their senses quickly and agree to what’s on the table, or the Steelers will shift the end goal to Lamb being traded for. At that point, San Francisco may have no other choice but to finally cave.

Kelley L Cox / USA Today

49ers General Manager John Lynch embraces wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk on the field at Levi’s Stadium during a San Francisco home game.

This is a fascinating situation. Aiyuk just turned 26 while Lamb hit the quarter of a century mark in the 2024 offseason. Both are promising young players with a lot of football left in them, and frankly, both organizations that they play will have a very tough time keeping them around given their financial situations and future obligations to pay quarterbacks in Dak Prescott and Brock Purdy.

The Steelers and Khan aren’t tied down to any quarterback past the 2024 campaign, which leaves the financial piece in their favor. Depending on an asking price from Jones, which would likely be a first-round pick, Pittsburgh could pay Lamb what he wants if need be. This presents a new bargaining tool for Khan. No one can prove that the 49ers have purposefully leaked anything to get a reaction from the Steelers, but it’s how the game is played, and maybe now it’s Khan’s turn.

One little report coming out that Pittsburgh has shifted focus to Lamb could create a panic out West in San Francisco. Jones’ inappropriate and questionable comments about his best offensive player could absolutely be used as a tool to finally get Lynch to give in to whatever Khan’s final offer is for Aiyuk. This could have just brought an entire new dimension to the negotiations.

Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers General Manager Omar Khan picks up the phone in the team’s war room during the 2023 NFL Draft weekend.

Steelers Seemed Poised To Land Wide Receiver Via Trade One Way Or Another

Pittsburgh knows that George Pickens will be a threat in the passing game, but there are questions pretty much everywhere else. A second receiver to pair with the third-year play-maker could make all the difference when it comes to playoff aspirations. Khan has patiently waited for the entire offseason to make a deal, and no one should be surprised if it happens very soon.