Brandon Aiyuk is back on the 49ers’ roster for the moment, but that doesn’t mean he’s back in the picture.
After months away while he recovered from injury and dealt with a contract dispute and other off-the-field issues, Aiyuk was reinstated by San Francisco on Monday. The team now has a two-week exemption before it would have to place him on the 53-man roster. But Kyle Shanahan has already made it clear the 49ers don’t plan to bring him back, and Mike Florio reported Tuesday that it’s “likely” Aiyuk will be cut soon, opening the door for him to sign anywhere.
That leaves a former top-tier receiver looking for a new landing spot, and a few teams stand out.
The Chiefs make obvious sense if they want another playmaker for Patrick Mahomes. Kansas City has reportedly been exploring receiver help on the trade market with Xavier Worthy and Tyquan Thornton hurt, Rashee Rice averaging just 48.7 yards per game and a 37-year-old Travis Kelce once again carrying a huge load in the passing game.
The Chiefs also need more juice in the second half, even with Kenneth Walker helping Andy Reid’s run game. If the front office doesn’t want to spend draft capital, the free-agent route could be the answer.
Aiyuk isn’t going to walk in and instantly look like the version that topped 1,200 yards in 2023, especially after months away from an NFL facility. But if he can get ramped up over a few weeks, his career 14.6 yards per catch gives Mahomes a downfield option.
With Tyreek Hill still available but also a question mark because of injury recovery, Aiyuk would be a low-risk, high-reward swing alongside Rice and Kelce.
The Rams are another logical fit, especially after their receiver room took a hit. Sean McVay said yesterday that Puka Nacua will likely go on IR with an MCL and PCL sprain in his right leg, which will keep him out for at least a month.
Davante Adams also won’t be back until at least Week 12 because of a hamstring issue. That’s a brutal stretch for Matthew Stafford, and it has left Los Angeles thin at receiver at a time when it badly needs wins.
At 5-4, the Rams need help soon. Aiyuk may not be ready in a hurry, but he could add depth to a group that has been banged up all year.
Even if Nacua and Adams were healthy, his big-play ability would fit. And yes, the Dec. 13 meeting with the 49ers would add a little extra spice.
Pittsburgh belongs in the conversation too. The Steelers have seen D.K.
Metcalf’s production drop to 47.3 yards per game, while Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson are both hurt. Still, at 6-2 with Aaron Rodgers playing well, Pittsburgh is in position to make a run.
The Steelers haven’t usually been the kind of team that makes splashy receiver moves, but the Metcalf and Pittman deals already marked a shift from the old model of leaning on home-grown wideouts like George Pickens, Calvin Austin III, Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool. If the Steelers want to go all-in on helping Rodgers through the air, Aiyuk could be the kind of addition that makes sense without costing draft picks.
His recent off-the-field issues don’t exactly line up with Pittsburgh’s team-first identity, but if he’s ready to move past them, there’s a fit. A receiving trio of Metcalf, Aiyuk and Pittman would give Rodgers three veterans who can still create big plays.
Washington has been hovering here for a while, and Aiyuk has made no secret of the fact that he’d be interested. In June, he said on social media that he would “sign with the Commanders tomorrow” if the 49ers released him, according to NFL.com.
He has also made it clear he’d want to play in Washington with former Arizona State teammate Jayden Daniels, though the two also appeared to be at odds in a social media feud this offseason. ESPN’s Adam Schefter recently said he wouldn’t rule out the Commanders signing Aiyuk, noting the team hasn’t “completely abandoned” the idea.
Even with a 2-5-1 start, Washington is still in a winnable NFC East, and it could look to replace the injured Terry McLaurin by pairing Aiyuk with Stefon Diggs for Daniels. The Commanders don’t need a receiver as urgently as some of the other teams on this list, but the fit is still there if Aiyuk gets his wish.
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