They didn't even try until 18. They hadn't taken a 1st or 2nd round QB for 30 years.

The first year they tried they nailed it...

Well, we do know that Davante wasn't happy about his QBs last season. And in that "Receiver" show he even said out loud several times that he needed to get out of there.

I find it hard to believe the notoriously cheap Rooney family, who rarely dishes out second contracts to its players, is willing to go out of its way to give up draft capital AND pay a wide receiver $30 million per.

That's laughably overblown. Robinson had 214 attempts. The highest in the whole league was Derrick Henry at 280.

In fact they annually trade away WR's because they aren't willing to pay at the position.

Yeah, it did raise an eyebrow...

Aiyuk is striking while the iron appears hottest for him. There’s obviously no guarantee he has another really good year and stays injury free, but also this might be a possible indicator that he doesn’t think Purdy is all that good and that it’s a little risky to somewhat rely on him for his big pay day.

SF apparently offered him around $24M/yr, no? Don't remember if they posted the length of contract, but $24M is a lot of $$$. And the reality is that Aiyuk is not a top-3 or top-5 WR, so $30M shouldn't even be on the table.

This might just be the whole thing though. Maybe he found out that right now, before the season, he could be worth that to a team that basically isn’t paying QBs now or in the near future, but still is in need of a playmaker, and also has basically no other options. In the Steelers case, are they even paying a QB this season? I guess something for Fields but nothing for Wilson.

Eh. He was on a team that made it to the SB twice in 5 years, and if Purdy didn't get injured at the beginning of that game vs. PHI, maybe it would've been 3 times.


Very little chance of that in PIT. And historically, when WRs at his level join teams with bad QBs, they kind of disappear after a couple seasons because their production just drops off, and they're playing for a team that doesn't go deep into the playoffs, so they're just less visible.

I mean, as a player I like Aiyuk; I think he's pretty good. But I don't see PIT helping his career, just his wallet. We'll see, and I hope he thrives there, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

And you miss the part where most players mainly care about the money.

Aiyuk to the Steelers?
 

I’m not really arguing at all that he will have better stats or career there. But from his perspective it’s entirely possible he will make far more money the next five years by pushing his way out right now.

Oh, I'm aware. There's always a few players that buck that trend, but the vast majority go the $$, I get it. But he was part of a team that was semi-regularly getting to the SB. If he goes to PIT, he'll be a part of a team that, doesn't. With a QB (or QBs) that can't get him the ball the way he was getting it in SF, that's all I'm saying.

If it works out for him, kudos. But history isn't really in his favor.

Meh. It's short-sighted thinking, imo. But like I said, if it works out for him, congrats. If it doesn't, well, I won't be surprised, that's all.

It really is that simple most the time.

I remember when JJ Watt even went to the highest bidder in Arizona at the end of his career.

Could’ve taken a cheap deal to win a ring after accomplishing everything else in his career. The money still mattered more.

Even $1m difference is a lot of money.