The Brandon Aiyuk-to-Dallas chatter has already run into a wall.
What looked like a speculative Cowboys rumor quickly lost steam once the full picture around Aiyuk’s situation in San Francisco came into focus. His standing with the 49ers has deteriorated badly since he tore his ACL, MCL and meniscus in Week 7 of the 2024 season, and the problems have gone well beyond the injury itself.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Aiyuk missed mandatory rehab sessions with the team’s medical staff during his recovery. The 49ers answered by voiding a $24.9 million option bonus tied to his 2026 guarantees. Kyle Shanahan said that decision was worked out internally in July 2025, though it wasn’t made public until that November.
The relationship only worsened from there. Aiyuk reportedly stopped communicating with the coaching staff and front office, and San Francisco eventually put him on the reserve/left squad list in December. Since then, he has said on social media that he will not apply for league reinstatement, which prevents the 49ers from releasing him.
He has also taken shots at the NFLPA over how it handled his contract grievance. In a deleted post, he went after Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels after rumors tied him to a trade there. Aiyuk, the Northern Nevada native, signed a four-year, $120 million extension in August 2024, but the fallout from his actions has damaged both that deal and his reputation around the league.
That’s the backdrop behind the latest Cowboys speculation, and it’s why the idea doesn’t make much sense. NFL aggregator Dov Kleiman posted on X that Polymarket had Dallas at a 21% chance to land Aiyuk, either through a trade or a free-agent deal. That number has since fallen below 1%, with the Baltimore Ravens listed as the favorite at 4%.
Cowboys analyst Law Thomas of Law Nation Media was even more blunt on social media, writing, "I can predict that this is a 0% chance."
And for Dallas, the fit looks even thinner when you factor in the money. Jerry Jones has never shied away from big-name swings, but absorbing Aiyuk’s $120 million contract while also dealing with his knee injuries and the team conflict that has followed him is a steep ask. The Cowboys are already tied financially to CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, which leaves no real room for Aiyuk on the offensive roster.
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