One of the most bizarre NFL stories of the past few seasons has centered on San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Currently on the team’s Reserve/Left Squad list, Aiyuk’s whereabouts remain unclear. The 49ers have reportedly attempted to contact him to discuss his future with the organization, but those efforts have gone unanswered.
As more time passes, Aiyuk appears increasingly untradeable. Reports indicate that teams around the league view him as a risk not worth taking. At this point, even a conditional seventh-round pick reportedly isn’t enough to generate interest.
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So what options do the 49ers have left?
Oct 20, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) walks on the field before the start of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
The answer is fairly straightforward. They can keep Aiyuk on the Reserve/Left Squad list until he reports, or they can release him. The latter appears to be the outcome Aiyuk may prefer. Realistically, he can effectively block any trade by simply refusing to report to his new team.
This saga has created problems for everyone involved. In hindsight, the 49ers likely should have traded Aiyuk in 2024 when they had the opportunity. Instead, they chose to sign him to a lucrative extension after he reversed course on his desire to be traded.
The entire saga has been difficult to describe. At this point, there is no guarantee Aiyuk will ever play professional football again. Holding out for a new contract or forcing a trade is one thing. Walking away from your team while rehabbing a significant knee injury is an entirely different situation.
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That injury adds another layer of uncertainty. Not only is Aiyuk’s future in football unclear, but so is the status of his health. He suffered a season-ending knee injury that ultimately contributed to him missing the entire 2025 season.
49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk plays against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII. | Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Potential trade partners face several unanswered questions. Will Aiyuk report? Can he pass a physical? Is he capable of returning to his previous level of play? Until those questions are answered, he remains virtually untradeable.
Ultimately, this situation is likely to end in one of two ways. The 49ers can release him after the June 1 deadline, or they can continue keeping him on the Reserve/Left Squad list. Because the team has already avoided triggering his guarantees, Aiyuk currently is not being paid.
What began as a contract dispute has evolved into one of the NFL’s strangest ongoing sagas. And for now, there appears to be no end in sight.