
Speculation continues to surround San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and the possibility of a reunion with his friend and former college quarterback, Jayden Daniels, now with the Washington Commanders.
Washington has frequently been mentioned as a potential landing spot for Aiyuk amid his ongoing situation with the 49ers. While San Francisco would reportedly prefer to trade the disgruntled receiver, interested teams are hesitant to surrender draft capital, believing the 49ers will eventually release him instead.
Daniels was asked on Wednesday about Aiyuk's football future, but the quarterback offered little indication of what may happen next.
"I don't have a sense on it," Daniels said, via ESPN's John Keim. "That is my brother. We have a personal relationship, but his football future is out of my control."
Jayden Daniels on what his sense is of Brandon Aiyuk's future: "I don't have a sense on it. That is my borther we have a personal relationship, but his football future is out of my control."— John Keim (@john_keim) May 27, 2026
The four-year, $120 million contract extension Aiyuk signed ahead of the 2024 NFL season remains one of the biggest obstacles to a potential trade. According to reports, teams have been reluctant to absorb the deal, especially with uncertainty surrounding whether the receiver would be willing to restructure his contract.
Teams, including the 49ers, have reportedly been unable to reach Aiyuk.
Aiyuk last played during the 2024 season, appearing in seven games before suffering ACL and MCL injuries. The 49ers initially hoped the receiver could return at some point in 2025, but the relationship between the two sides deteriorated, and Aiyuk cut off communication with the team.
In March, head coach Kyle Shanahan stated that there is no timeline on an Aiyuk-related move and that the 49ers are in no rush to get something done.
"You're not trying to hook up some other team as fast as you possibly can," Shanahan said. "Hopefully, we can get something for that, and it will take care of itself."
During the NFL Draft, general manager John Lynch made it clear that the 49ers remain open to trade offers.
"The situation didn't work itself out here," Lynch said. "That's not to say that it can't be rekindled somewhere else. And we'd be happy to do something with anyone, if the opportunity presented itself."
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