The Washington Commanders’ move for Stefon Diggs looks like the kind of signing that shuts down a lot more than one roster spot. It also takes a major option off the table for Brandon Aiyuk.
Fox Sports insider Jordan Schultz reported Wednesday that Washington is signing veteran All-Pro receiver Stefon Diggs. For the San Francisco 49ers, that matters for obvious football reasons - the two teams will face each other this season - but it also hits a much bigger subplot: Aiyuk’s obvious interest in landing with the Commanders if San Francisco ever lets him go.
Aiyuk has already made the situation with the 49ers messy enough. After going AWOL last season, the 2020 Round 1 draftee has taken repeated shots on social media at his own team, including head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch. He has also made it clear he wants Washington, if the 49ers release him, something they still haven’t done.
That social-media trail apparently registered in Washington, especially with general manager Adam Peters. Aiyuk’s posts and his fixation on the Commanders may not have been a deal-breaker by themselves, but Diggs arriving changes the equation completely.
Washington now looks set at receiver with Diggs joining Terry McLaurin, and that gives Peters little reason to sit around waiting on Aiyuk. The exact terms of Diggs’ contract haven’t been reported, but the practical reality is simple: Diggs is available now and can help right away.
Aiyuk, meanwhile, has not played since his brutal 2024 knee injury, and his behavior since then has only damaged his standing. He also has not applied for reinstatement with the league, while the 49ers still haven’t released him.
It will be interesting to see how Aiyuk reacts to this latest development, and whether he treats Washington as a missed opportunity. Given how he’s responded to other perceived slights, another social-media rant wouldn’t be a surprise.
For now, though, the path he seemed to want in Washington looks closed.
In Other News...
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San Francisco also has been managing the workload of key players like Nick Bosa, giving veterans rest days to keep them fresh. In the middle of all that, the club has had to add outside help at receiver and along the defensive line, a reminder that camp depth is becoming a real concern before the games even begin. [Read more 🡒]
Brandon Aiyuk Just Made The 49ers Situation Even More Awkward
Brandon Aiyuks situation has gone from tense to messy for the 49ers, with the wide receiver making it clear he would prefer a fresh start in Washington. His public comments and social media activity have kept the topic alive, including criticism aimed at San Francisco and interactions with Jayden Daniels, all of which has only added to the noise around a player the 49ers once hoped to keep at the center of their offense.
Washington, though, does not appear to be the clean exit ramp Aiyuk may have had in mind. The Commanders have concerns about his behavior and the kind of presence he would bring into the locker room, and the door to any real move still requires a formal step that has not happened yet. For the 49ers, it leaves an awkward standoff in place, with Aiyuk publicly leaning elsewhere but no obvious resolution on the horizon. [Read more 🡒]
49ers May Regret Passing On Proven Pass Rush Help
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The choice to stay away from the veteran market could look even more interesting now because the player in question signed a one-year deal with Houston, a relatively modest arrangement for a pass rusher with his track record. Injury history was always part of the calculation for San Francisco, but the 49ers may still wind up wondering whether the safer bet on paper was the right one if their front continues to thin out. [Read more 🡒]