Andrew Buller-Russ
Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters has addressed many of the areas for which he’s heard criticism after a disappointing season. Some of the team’s biggest weaknesses suddenly had an answer.
That was especially true at edge rusher with Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson both coming aboard. Leo Chenal arrived to provide stability at middle linebacker. Nick Cross and Amik Robertson help shore up the secondary.
Yet, aside from tailbacks Rachaad White and Jerome Ford plus tight end Chig Okonkwo, Washington hasn’t done much to address an offense that suddenly averaged 7.6 fewer points per game than the year before.
One area that could still use a boost is at wide receiver, where Deebo Samuel has seen his contract lapse. The Commanders have signed both Van Jefferson and Dyami Brown, but neither is a solution for anything the team didn’t have last season.
Another possibility that the Commanders have been linked to on several occasions is former second-team All-Pro Brandon Aiyuk. Yet, he’s still under contract with the San Francisco 49ers.
ESPN’s John Keim takes it a step further, reporting that the Commanders are “well aware” of Aiyuk’s “desire” to play with his college quarterback Jayden Daniels. But it isn’t that easy.
“One intriguing name could be San Francisco 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk,” Keim wrote. “Multiple team sources said Washington is well aware of Aiyuk’s desire to play with Daniels. But Aiyuk remains under contract and the Commanders would be unlikely to trade for him or, when free, sign him to anything other than a one-year, prove-it deal.”
The 49ers are essentially playing hardball here, knowing that Aiyuk and the Commanders may be trying to align. Yet, while we’ve seen teams hesitant but willing to release past stars like Tua Tagovailoa, Kyler Murray, or Tyreek Hill, the 49ers have been unwilling to do so with Aiyuk. So far.
Meanwhile, the Commanders understandably aren’t willing to trade anything of real value for a player who missed the entire 2025 season with a knee injury. It doesn’t help that there are still three seasons remaining on Aiyuk’s four-year, $120 million contract.
Understandably, the Commanders don’t want to pay that price for a player with 374 yards and zero touchdowns in the past two years. The 49ers also don’t want to release Aiyuk outright. If so, they’d face $29.5 million in dead cap charges.
Thus, unless and until the 49ers or Commanders budge on their stance or perhaps meet in the middle, this situation doesn’t feel like it’s going anywhere any time soon. As a result, the Commanders may feel they have no choice but to make other plans at the receiver position.
Related: Washington Commanders Showing NFL Draft Prospect ‘A Lot of Love’
