NFL Rumors: Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers Not Far Apart on Contract amid Steelers Trade Buzz

Brandon Aiyuk might not get traded after all.

The San Francisco 49ers and the star wideout are reportedly close to an agreement in extension talks, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, who noted that Aiyuk would "prefer" to remain with the team and has "always preferred" to stay with the Niners.

He added the two sides have "agreed on a lot of the main points" in negotiations, save for "one more thing that needs to be ironed out, and if that thing gets ironed out, Aiyuk signs the deal and remains with the 49ers."

Garafolo didn't specify what the sticking point was in the contract talks, however.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport added that the Niners and Pittsburgh Steelers have the framework of a trade in place for Aiyuk—and that the Steelers are in a "very good place" in extension talks with the star wideout should that deal go through—but that San Francisco's own extension negotiations with Aiyuk have have kept the deal from being finalized.

So to recap: The Niners have a trade in place with Pittsburgh should they fail to negotiate an extension with Aiyuk, but those talks continue and the two sides are reportedly close on a new deal that would keep the wideout in the Bay Area.

It would appear we are nearing the end of a long saga that started over Aiyuk's displeasure after not receiving an extension this offseason. The result has been a trade request, a hold-in at training camp, actual trade talks and enough rumors for a follow-up Fleetwood Mac album.

Losing Aiyuk would be a tough blow for a Niners team with Super Bowl aspirations. The 26-year-old was San Francisco's top weapon out wide last season, registering 75 catches for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns.

Normally, an extension would be a no-brainer, but the Niners are already paying Nick Bosa the largest contract for a defensive player in football and will need to lock up Brock Purdy on a lucrative extension next offseason, alongside having Trent Williams holding out as well during training camp and plenty of other key players to pay.

They are facing a salary-cap crunch, in other words, and signing Aiyuk to a contract in the ranks of the other top receivers in the game would make balancing the books a difficult endeavor.

Thus, two paths for the Niners: A trade with the Steelers, or an extension with Aiyuk. We are perhaps finally, and mercifully, close to the team picking a resolution to this situation.