Brandon Aiyuk has likely played his final snap with the San Francisco 49ers, but the organization isn’t rushing to outright release the receiver and hasn’t relented on a potential trade.
The latest chapter of this ongoing saga saw Aiyuk post an Instagram video (h/t Grant Gordon of NFL.com) in which he said: “They mad ’cause they stupid. They dumb. They mad that they paid me $50 million in eight months and then voided my guarantees for 2027. And I’m about to be on a new team in 2027.”
If Aiyuk gets his wishes and becomes a free agent, he should have no shortage of suitors looking to scoop a star receiver still in their prime for cheap. While injuries have kept him off the field since midway through the 2024 campaign, Aiyuk put up 1,342 receiving yards and seven touchdowns on 75 catches in 2023—his most recent healthy season.
With career numbers of 4,305 yards and 25 touchdowns on 294 catches over his first 69 games, Aiyuk has the stuff to be a solid No. 1 WR or top-flight No. 2 for many teams.
Aiyuk himself has hinted that the Washington Commanders—a team that has a glaring need at the WR position and features former Arizona State teammate Jayden Daniels under center—would be a preferred destination to sign with.
Expect Washington and many other clubs to monitor this rapidly evolving situation closely and strike quickly if Aiyuk gets cut this offseason.