49ers have potential deadline to move on from Brandon Aiyuk

The San Francisco 49ers and Brandon Aiyuk are still going through a bit of a rough patch.

It sounds highly unlikely that he'll ever play another down for the team, at least with HC Kyle Shanahan and GM John Lynch still there.

However, the team is not going to grant him his release if it can get something in return for his services.

That said, that could all change at one point if there are no suitors. According to Vic Tafur and Matt Barrows of The Athletic, the 49ers may wait until late in August to let him go.

49ers are in no rush to move on from Brandon Aiyuk

"Why would the 49ers do a team that they compete with a favor by handing Aiyuk over for free now? Perhaps they’ll release him after the draft if they can’t find a suitor by then. But San Francisco can wait much longer if it wants to -- the team doesn’t owe Aiyuk anything until his option bonus is due Sept. 1," the report read. 

That's simple but flawless logic. Letting him go while they can still squeeze some value out of him would just be poor asset management and a disservice to the team.

He's not even much of a distraction now, although that could obviously change by the time the team gets OTAs rolling. 

The Washington Commanders look like a logical next stop, given his ties to former college teammate Jayden Daniels and their need for another weapon opposite Terry McLaurin.

Then again, just like the 49ers, they should be in no rush to make a move at a player who'll probably be released sooner rather than later, even though getting a jumpstart to incorporating him to the offense would obviously be beneficial.

For now, it looks like everybody's just participating in a staring contest.