Colin Cowherd isn’t buying the 49ers’ way of handling Brandon Aiyuk.
On “The Herd with Colin Cowherd,” the Fox Sports host took aim at San Francisco’s roster management and said the team has leaned too long into keeping players around instead of cutting ties when the situation turns messy.
“I've been saying this on the Niners for years-cut bait, move on. The Rams do a much better job at moving on from injured players or players with drama.
The Niners either coddle or keep them in-house. That's why the 49ers' roster has become old, dramatic, brittle, and expensive.
Brandon Aiyuk goes on Instagram and basically blows up any opportunity to play for a tremendous young quarterback, Jayden Daniels. The Commanders dodged a bullet here.
That stuff is just bad, and I wish the Niners would have moved on years ago.”
Cowherd’s gripe wasn’t just about Aiyuk staying in the picture. He framed the issue as part of a larger pattern with San Francisco, arguing that the receiver’s behavior makes him a problem for any team, not just the 49ers.
He also said the Commanders were better off not signing or trading for Aiyuk, adding that “the Commanders dodged a bullet.”
Aiyuk remains one of the biggest talking points around the 49ers, even if the actual on-field impact is a different question. Players still get asked about him, and his name keeps coming up as the story around San Francisco stretches on.
Still, the idea that he’s a true locker room disruption may be getting more attention than the reality warrants. The former 49ers starter has become a constant topic, but the team won 12 games last year without him, and did it while also being without their starting quarterback for half the season.
San Francisco has also added Mike Evans, Christian Kirk and De'Zhaun Stribling, which the article says wipes out most, if not all, of what the team lost in Aiyuk over the last couple of years. The next question is whether the 49ers decide to release him from his contract in the coming months.
In Other News...
Deebo Samuel Just Got Linked To A Brutal NFC West Return
Deebo Samuel is already a familiar name around the NFC West, but the next chapter of his career could keep him in the division in a way 49ers fans would not love. After spending time with Washington and then San Francisco, the former Pro Bowl wideout is now being mentioned as a possible fit for a Rams offense that could use another proven target behind Davante Adams and Puka Nacua.
The appeal is easy to see from Los Angeles side, with the current depth chart still leaving room for a veteran receiver who can stabilize the middle of the lineup. Samuels recent production suggests he still has enough left to matter, and the idea of him landing on a short-term deal only adds to the intrigue as the Rams weigh whether to make a move that would hit close to home in the division. [Read more 🡒]
Purdy And Kittle Just Entered Rare 49ers History
Brock Purdy and George Kittle have become one of the most efficient quarterback-tight end combinations the league has seen, and the numbers now back up what has been obvious on Sundays for a while. Per Pro Football Focus, the 49ers duo sits fourth all-time among qualifying pairings in expected points added per play, and over the last four seasons Purdy has leaned on Kittle as a true centerpiece of the passing game.
From 2022 through 2025, Purdy targeted Kittle 269 times and got big-play production in return, with the connection driving both yardage and touchdowns at a level that has helped define San Franciscos offense. Even in 2025, the link stayed among the leagues best at the position, which is why the 49ers can feel good about how central Kittle has been to Purdys rise, even if the next chapter of that partnership still comes with some uncertainty. [Read more 🡒]
Three 49ers Camp Battles Could Shape Shanahans Season
Training camp usually sorts out depth charts, but for the 49ers, a few of the most important decisions are already taking shape before the pads even come on. Left guard is one of the cleaner competitions, with Connor Colby entering as the favorite and Carver Willis and Robert Jones trying to force their way into the picture. It is the kind of battle that can quietly matter a lot in Kyle Shanahans offense, where one spot on the interior can affect everything from protection to run-game timing.
The secondary has its own set of questions, and those could be just as revealing. Renardo Green is facing real pressure at cornerback from Jack Jones and rookie Ephysians Prysock, while at safety Malik Mustapha appears set, leaving JiAyir Brown, Marques Sigle and Ashtyn Davis to sort out the other starting role. With so much competition clustered in a few spots, camp will not just determine who starts, but how much flexibility the 49ers have when the season begins. [Read more 🡒]