Andrew Buller-Russ
Ever since the offseason officially started, the Washington Commanders have been one of the busiest teams in free agency. They’ve strongly focused on upgrading a defense that ranked 27th in points allowed, but additions have come on offense too. There could be more on the way.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the San Francisco 49ers are in “no rush” to part with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Yet, he’s good as gone. Schefter believes the 49ers are still holding out hope that they’ll receive some type of trade offer for the former second-team All-Pro.
The 49ers are playing the waiting game, hoping a team gets desperate enough to make a bid for Aiyuk, even if it’s a small trade return like a late Day 3 draft pick. Still, getting something is better than nothing for the 27-year-old receiver.
It’s also possible that the 49ers see the writing on the wall, and believe Aiyuk is simply waiting for his chance to join his old college quarterback Jayden Daniels in Washington.
As ESPN’s Nick Wagoner recently reported, “Washington makes a lot of sense.”
“He played with Jayden Daniels in college,” Wagoner wrote. “They’re very close. Jayden Daniels, I’m sure, would love to play again with Brandon Aiyuk, but I don’t get the sense that the 49ers are in any rush to move on from Brandon Aiyuk even though we know eventually they will.”
Aiyuk didn’t play a single snap in 2025 while recovering from a torn ACL and MCL in 2024. Yet, with the Commanders watching Deebo Samuel’s contract expire this offseason, there’s no doubt that they could use another pass-catcher in D.C. and Aiyuk could be a good fit if he’s healthy.
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