Latest On Commanders, Brandon Aiyuk

Aiyuk remains under contract with San Francisco as he is on the team’s reserve/left squad list. This increasingly bizarre saga does not have a firm timeline regarding its conclusion, and it will become more complicated if the Commanders opt to avoid adding Aiyuk or any other available receiver. Further details on Washington’s interest in this case have emerged.

Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic confirms the Commanders were never looking to acquire Aiyuk via trade. The 28-year-old has consistently been viewed as untradeable given the money remaining on his contract (something which could soon become the subject of a legal battle involving the 49ers). A release, on the other hand, would leave Aiyuk free to reunite with former college teammate Jayden Daniels. Commanders general manager Adam Peters was in the 49ers’ front office when Aiyuk was drafted, and that familiarity has been a factor in the dot-connecting in this case.

Per Jhabvala, Washington was giving thought to a “one-year, highly incentivized deal” following Aiyuk’s expected release earlier in the offseason. The former first-rounder’s erratic behavior since then has cast plenty of doubt on the Commanders’ level of interest, however. Aiyuk very clearly wants to head to Washington, but his 49ers exit does not appear to be imminent; it is also unclear how willing Peters and Co. would be to take on the risk associated with even a one-year pact.

Terry McLaurin will once again serve as Washington’s No. 1 receiver in 2026. The team’s depth chart also includes the likes of Dyami Brown, Luke McCaffrey, Treylon Burks and third-round rookie Antonio Williams. With over $43MM in cap space, the Commanders could easily afford a short-term addition deep into free agency. Several veterans, like Stefon Diggs, DeAndre Hopkins, Keenan Allen and Deebo Samuel are unsigned at this point.

As Jhabvala notes, it is unknown which of Aiyuk or his agent actually filed the paperwork to officially terminate their partnership. Even that procedural move has been the subject of confusion, serving as a further illustration of the uncertainty surrounding his future. Regardless of what happens next, it is far from certain the Commanders will still be willing to add Aiyuk whenever he becomes available.