There’s a growing buzz around Brandon Aiyuk and the Washington Commanders - and it’s not just offseason smoke. According to reports from league insiders, Washington is being viewed as a serious potential landing spot for the 49ers wide receiver, and there’s plenty of connective tissue to back that up.
Let’s start with the quarterback. Aiyuk and Commanders rookie Jayden Daniels go way back to their Arizona State days, where they developed chemistry on and off the field. That bond still runs deep, and it reportedly played a role in Aiyuk’s desire to be traded to Washington during his rocky contract standoff with San Francisco earlier this year.
Then there’s Adam Peters, Washington’s new GM, who was in the 49ers’ front office when Aiyuk was selected in the first round of the 2020 draft. Peters knows exactly what Aiyuk brings to the table - a dynamic route-runner with elite separation skills and a knack for making big plays after the catch. That familiarity could make Washington an ideal landing spot if the Niners decide to move on.
And that’s looking more and more likely.
The relationship between Aiyuk and the 49ers has been strained for a while. The team nearly traded him before agreeing to a massive four-year, $120 million extension - $76 million of it guaranteed - but the ink had barely dried before the situation soured again.
Aiyuk suffered a torn ACL midway through the season and hasn’t returned to the field since. While the 49ers are still holding out hope for a return, the reality is that time is running out on this season.
To make matters worse, the 49ers voided Aiyuk’s contract guarantees this past summer after he missed team rehab sessions. Aiyuk chose not to challenge the move through the NFLPA, a decision that now gives San Francisco the option to release him without paying the $27 million he was scheduled to earn in 2026. That’s a massive shift in leverage - and a clear sign that this partnership may be nearing its end.
Aiyuk’s journey to this point has been anything but ordinary. He was a one-year starter at Arizona State, but made the most of his final college season, earning first-team All-Pac-12 honors.
The 49ers liked him enough to trade up with the Vikings and grab him at No. 25 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. He signed a rookie deal worth just over $12.5 million, including a $6.6 million signing bonus, and the team later exercised his fifth-year option for 2024 at a fully guaranteed $14.1 million.
Before his injury derailed the season, Aiyuk played in seven games in 2024, catching 23 passes for 351 yards - but no touchdowns. It wasn’t the production the 49ers were hoping for after locking him into a nine-figure deal, but the talent is still there. When healthy, Aiyuk is a legitimate WR1 - and at just 27 years old, his best football could still be ahead of him.
If the 49ers decide to cut ties, the Commanders make a ton of sense. The Daniels connection, Peters’ familiarity, and Washington’s need for a top-tier receiver all line up. And for Aiyuk, a fresh start in an offense built around a quarterback he trusts might be exactly what he needs to get back to form.
This is one to keep an eye on as the offseason unfolds.