49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and the Washington Commanders have mutual interest, but could the 49ers’ willingness to hold on to Aiyuk despite an inevitable split cause the Commanders to pony up draft capital to speed up the process? Recent comments by San Francisco 49ers brass at the NFL owners meeting indicate the 49ers won’t let him go for free.
Should the Washington Commanders Trade for Pro Bowl WR Brandon Aiyuk?
It has been known for months that the 49ers and Pro Bowl wide receiver Aiyuk will be going their separate ways. Still under contract despite his guarantees being voided by the team in 2025, the 49ers could release Aiyuk with little to no financial penalty. Aiyuk suffered a torn ACL during the 2024 season and didn’t play at all in 2025. However, the 49ers remain hopeful to get draft capital for Aiyuk. When asked about the status of a decision with Aiyuk, SF head coach Kyle Shanahan had this to say.
“I don’t have a date,” Shanahan said about the release of Aiyuk. “We are in no rush to do that. Eventually, it will resolve itself. Hopefully, we get something for it.”
A trade for Aiyuk could prove difficult because the team trading for him would take on the remainder of his contract, which goes through 2028. Teams would prefer a release so a new contract could be negotiated, especially with Aiyuk coming off a serious injury.
Washington has long been the favorite to land Aiyuk should the Commanders trade for him?
It wouldn’t be in Washington’s best interest to do so. If they know they are the favorite to land Aiyuk’s services, they can just continue to wait out the process. The uncomfortable unknown about waiting out the saga with the 49ers and Aiyuk is that this could go all the way into the start of the regular season or even longer. If it were up to the Commanders, they could have Aiyuk’s services before training so he can build chemistry with the offense, as the team has a new offensive coordinator. Still, waiting on an Aiyuk resolution rather than sending capital and taking on the contract seems the most viable option for Washington.
Washington has limited draft capital for 2026, only having two picks in the first three rounds. They could dip into their pool of 2027 draft capital, but at the end of the day, the Commanders could believe it’s not worth it if they remain Aiyuk’s top choice if released.
Aiyuk’s close relationship with Commander’s star QB Jayden Daniels
The biggest reason the Commanders will likely wait out the Aiyuk saga is because of his relationship with Daniels. The two players are close friends, as they played together at Arizona State. With both players already having on-field chemistry, it won’t be as difficult for them to get on the same page if Aiyuk doesn’t join the team in the foreseeable future.
Commanders Could Move on From Aiyuk Saga
Even though the Commanders could use his services and know Aiyuk’s close friendship with Daniels, they could ultimately choose to move on from adding Aiyuk this season. Eventually, Washington will need to go in another direction, whether through the draft or other resources, if the 49ers and Aiyuk situation continues to drag out.
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