With no resolution seemingly in sight regarding a possible Brandon Aiyuk extension, 49ers general manager John Lynch sough possible trades for the star receiver.
And one of them could have been an absolute blockbuster.
The 49ers were prepared to trade Aiyuk to the Pittsburgh Steelers for second- and third-round picks, per Sports illustrated, although the team needed a wide receiver to replace the departing star.
San Francisco approached the Denver Broncos about acquiring Courtland Sutton to replace Aiyuk in the offense in exchange for the third-round pick they would’ve acquired from Pittsburgh, per The Athletic.
The Broncos rebuffed the trade, and San Francisco was forced to figure out other trade options as little progress was being made regarding Aiyuk’s contract holdout.
Aiyuk ultimately signed the same four-year, $120 million contract he was being offered in early August, making him the fifth highest-paid receiver in average per-season salary.
Sutton would hardly have been a replacement for Aiyuk’s production, as Pro Football Focus ranked Aiyuk as the second-best wide receiver in the NFL last season.
Sutton ranked 31st, according to PFF.
In 16 games for Denver last season, Sutton caught 59 passes for 772 yards, mostly from quarterback Russell Wilson.
Sutton, however, is also among the best blocking wide receivers in the NFL, per PFF. His imposing 6-foot-4, 216-pound frame gives defensive backs fits.
Aiyuk grades out as the fourth-best blocking receiver in the league.
For the Steelers, the lack of a deal leaves them with little established depth behind George Pickens after trading Diontae Johnson to the Panthers.
With Aiyuk returning to San Francisco, he now will have a little more than week to get ready to face the Jets in Week 1 on “Monday Night Football.”
