Before we dive into teams that might take a flier on Aiyuk, it’s worth examining exactly why he may be available in the first place. Remember, the 49ers had trade offers on the table for the talented pass-catcher—he nixed a deal to the Cleveland Browns, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area—before locking him up to a lucrative extension.
According to Russini and Silver, Aiyuk has “failed to attend meetings and declined to participate in other team activities,” which has led the 49ers to void his 2026 guarantees. Aiyuk is reportedly accepting the situation, hoping that it ultimately results in a change of scenery:
“Aiyuk, according to multiple league sources, told NFL Players Association representatives that he did not want to fight the move via an official grievance. That would clear the way for his expected release at season’s end.”
For receiver-needy teams, Aiyuk’s handling of his recovery may serve as a red flag—though they’ll undoubtedly want his version of why he chose to be uninvolved. For many, a bigger concern will be the fact that Aiyuk tore his ACL, MCL and meniscus just over a year ago.
If teams can ease their concerns, though, Aiyuk could be a fantastic signing for one of them. He’s a talented route-runner and big-play threat who racked up 1,342 receiving yards in 2023. He’ll only be 28 in March, and his health may require the sort of incentive-laden, “prove-it” deal that would be considered team-friendly if Aiyuk does return to pre-injury form.
Aiyuk won’t be a bargain-bin free agent, but he won’t to command the $30 million annually that he got in his last deal and that has become the going rate for second-tier receivers.