49ers insider warns Brandon Aiyuk about supposed Commanders interest amid uncertainty

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk continues to use social media to make it known that he seemingly is eager to join the Washington Commanders as soon as he is released by the 49ers. 

During a recent update shared via his YouTube page, 49ers insider Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area shared some bad news for Aiyuk about what the Commanders may or may not do ahead of the 2026 season regarding their need for another pass-catcher. 

Will no team take a flier on Brandon Aiyuk later this summer?

"If you’re the Washington Commanders and you’ve been following this, certainly [general manager] Adam Peters knows Brandon Aiyuk very well," Maiocco explained, per Eduardo Razo of Heavy. "[Head coach] Dan Quinn doesn’t know him nearly as well. I don’t know if he knows him at all, but I can’t imagine the Washington Commanders would be going all in for Brandon Aiyuk just because he says that the day the 49ers release him, the Commanders are going to sign him, or that he’s going to sign with the Commanders. Is he just speculating because one of his very good friends, Jayden Daniels, is the quarterback of the Washington Commanders? I don’t know. We’ll see. I don’t think it’s out of the realm of possibility, or out of the question, to think that Brandon Aiyuk has played his final NFL game." 

Peters was working for the 49ers when they drafted Aiyuk in 2020. Additionally, Aiyuk and Daniels were teammates at Arizona State. 

That said, a recent report indicated that the Commanders and other teams have "reservations" about acquiring Aiyuk after he has sparked concerns via the numerous videos he has shared on social media. As Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio noted, the NFL Players Association online database shows that Aiyuk terminated a standard representation agreement with Ryan Williams of Athletes First on Saturday.

The 49ers voided the remaining guaranteed money attached to the four-year, $120M extension Aiyuk signed in the summer of 2024 after he didn't participate in rehab sessions related to the knee injury he suffered in October 2024. Aiyuk could petition the league office for reinstatement from the reserve/left squad list and then report to the 49ers for training camp in late July. San Francisco would likely release Aiyuk instead of letting him participate in an official practice. 

Do Commanders want to deal with Brandon Aiyuk headaches?

"We shall see how this whole thing materializes and if the Washington Commanders are willing to stick their neck out for Brandon Aiyuk, knowing full well that Jayden Daniels, the guy who is the most important player, the most important person in the Commanders organization, is a really good friend of his," Maiocco continued. "Is that a headache Jayden Daniels needs, or is that a responsibility Jayden Daniels needs? Now, I’m sure Jayden wants Brandon Aiyuk on the team. I’m sure he has told Brandon Aiyuk he wants him as a teammate. But if you’re the Commanders’ management or the Commanders’ coaching staff, do you really want to put that on Jayden Daniels as he enters the third year of his contract?" 

Before the Commanders make a final decision about Aiyuk, he will need to submit his petition for reinstatement to the league office. Even if he does, Washington could explore other options for its passing attack before training-camp practices begin.