Steelers Mocked by NFL Fans After Brandon Aiyuk's Rumored Contract amid Trade Buzz

Pittsburgh Steelers fans have been getting their hopes up about a trade for Brandon Aiyuk for weeks, but the star wide receiver is staying put.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported Thursday that Aiyuk had finally come to an agreement with the San Francisco 49ers after an offseason of contract negotiations. Aiyuk agreed to a four-year deal worth $120 million, ending any speculation about a trade to Pittsburgh.

After the deal was reported, NFL fans mocked the Steelers for failing to land one of the top receivers in the NFL.

The optimism from Steelers fans wasn't unwarranted. As Aiyuk and San Francisco continued to go back and forth on an extension, he began a hold-in and even requested a trade from the team.

The 49ers and Steelers were in trade talks in early August and many signs pointed to him landing in Pittsburgh. Ultimately, San Francisco managed to figure out a deal that was appealing to Aiyuk.

With the new deal, Aiyuk will be tied with Tyreek Hill as the fifth-highest-paid receiver annually at $30 million per year. That number trails just Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb, AJ Brown and Amon-Ra St. Brown.

The massive contract makes sense after the year Aiyuk had in 2023. He had the seventh-most receiving yards in the league with 1,342 and also brought in seven touchdowns. Now, he'll remain with the 49ers and look to lead them to another Super Bowl appearance.