Latest On 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk

“I think that in all likelihood Brandon (Aiyuk) would probably sign with a team that knows him, somebody that has somehow been affiliated with him either in college or the 49ers. That’s just my guess,” Rosenhaus said. 

The Commanders have long been linked to Aiyuk, given his connection to QB Jayden Daniels during their college career at Arizona State while GM Adam Peters was San Francisco’s vice president of player personnel when they drafted him in 2020. 

Rosenhaus mentioned that Aiyuk passed his physical and there is interest in him around the league:

“I’m in the business of helping players and I felt like this was a player that could use my help. Brandon Aiyuk passed his physical and he was reinstated by the league.. I definitely expect him to play this season and there is interest in him,” Rosenhaus said, via McAfee.

Rosenhaus added Aiyuk will either play for San Francisco or be released when his two-week roster exemption is completed. In the end, he doesn’t think it sounds like Aiyuk will play for the 49ers based on HC Kyle Shanahan‘s recent comments.

“Brandon will either play for the 49ers when the two weeks is up or they can decide to release him, by which he will be a free agent and I expect that there will be interest in him. I definitely expect him to play this season. Judging [by] the comments from coach Shanahan, it doesn’t sound like they plan on bringing Brandon back. So when the two weeks is over, it’s my job to potentially find a new team for him. And I’m confident, now that he’s healthy, that he will play. As far as the money that’s allegedly owed… the $13 million, whatever it is—he hasn’t paid anything yet. That’s something that we’ll work out separate and distinct from the issue of him playing. Hopefully we’ll work something out to the benefit of Brandon’s and something that’s fair. And that’s also part of my job,” Rosenhaus said, via Mark Maske.

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk points out that San Francisco won’t owe Aiyuk any money during his two-week exemption under Article 20, Section 4 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. 

Florio cites the following provision in the league’s CBA: “If a Club obtains a roster exemption for a player under contract who does not report to his Club at least five days before the final day of Preseason Training Camp as defined in Article 23, Section 10, the player will not be entitled to preseason or regular season compensation until such exemption is removed, provided the player is given written notice of such fact upon reporting to the Club. If such notice is not given to the player, the player must be paid his Paragraph 5 Salary during his exemption.”

Florio also reports that Aiyuk won’t be reporting to the team today, given he’s been excused from team activities. 

Pro Football Talk wrote yesterday that Aiyuk was likely to be released by the end of the business day to avoid paying him $1.52 million. However, it appears San Francisco will avoid paying him anything until Tuesday, November 24, after his exemption expires.  

Jordan Schultz says at least one NFC team has had internal discussions about signing Aiyuk to the practice squad once he’s free. 

Aiyuk, 28, was a one-year starter at Arizona State and earned first-team All-Pac-12 in his final season. The 49ers traded up with the Vikings to select him with the No. 25 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. 

He signed a four-year, $12,531,342 rookie contract that included a $6,673,703 signing bonus. The 49ers exercised his fifth-year option last year for $14,124,000, fully guaranteed, for the 2024 season. 

Aiyuk officially agreed to a four-year, $120 million extension that includes $76 million guaranteed after a lengthy period in which he was nearly traded to the Steelers. However, he tore his ACL that year. 

A dispute later arose between Aiyuk and the 49ers related to his rehab which resulted in San Francisco voiding his guarantees and Aiyuk stopping all contact with the 49ers. He was placed on the left-squad list and was not reinstated until this week. 

In 2024, Aiyuk appeared in seven games for the 49ers, catching 23 passes for 351 receiving yards and no touchdowns.

We will have more on Aiyuk as it becomes available.