49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk Lobbying To Join Commanders

Last July, when the 49ers were displeased with how Aiyuk was handling his rehab, they voided the remaining guarantees on his deal. Aiyuk had a 50-day window to file a grievance through the NFLPA, but he took no action and lost $26MM.

Adding to an already odd situation, Aiyuk largely stayed away from the 49ers last season. Although general manager John Lynch expressed optimism Aiyuk would return from the reserve/PUP list at some point, that ended when the team transferred the wideout to the reserve/left squad list in December. He wound up contributing nothing during a 12-win campaign for the 49ers, who bowed out of the playoffs in a divisional round loss to the Seahawks.

Five months after the 49ers’ season ended, Aiyuk is still on their roster. There is no expectation he will ever play for them again, but Lynch has held out for a trade that is unlikely to materalize. There is a good chance the 49ers will release Aiyuk, who recently took public shots at them on social media, before their veterans report to training camp on July 25. He will be free to sign anywhere once that happens.

Dating to last season, Washington has come up as a potential Aiyuk suitor more than any other team. Commanders general manager Adam Peters was a key member of the 49ers’ front office when they drafted Aiyuk 25th overall in 2020. Peters stayed there through 2023, Aiyuk’s best season. Perhaps more importantly, Aiyuk still has a good relationship with Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels from their time together at Arizona State. Aiyuk took to social media on Sunday and made it clear he wants to reunite with Daniels in Washington.

In an Instagram video, Aiyuk yelled (via ESPN): “Go Commanders! Go Commanders! Go Commanders! Raise Hail! Take Command!” 

The 28-year-old also posted a picture of then-Washington quarterback Mark Rypien holding up the Lombardi Trophy after beating Buffalo in Super Bowl XXVI in January 1992. Washington has not gotten back to the Super Bowl since then. Whether Aiyuk would improve their odds of doing so this season is debatable, especially after a major injury and a pair of lost years, but it is obvious he wants the Commanders to take a chance on him.

For their part, the Commanders may benefit from adding Aiyuk or another starting-caliber receiver to team with clear-cut No. 1 option Terry McLaurin. They have over $43.70MM in cap space, giving them plenty of room to augment a receiving corps that also includes Dyami Brown, Treylon Burks, third-round rookie Antonio Williams, Luke McCaffrey, Jaylin Lane and Van Jefferson.