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By Megan Armstrong
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The San Francisco 49ers could not have seen this coming 18 months ago — or, maybe they could.
It turned out that the trade-that-almost-was between the San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers involving 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk in August 2024 foreshadowed how Aiyuk's tenure in San Francisco would go. Since then, despite signing a four-year, $120 million extension with San Francisco, Aiyuk has had the same impact on the 49ers' offense as he would have if he actually left for Pittsburgh.
Aiyuk tore his ACL and MCL in Week 7 of the 2024 NFL season, and he did not play a snap for the 49ers in 2025. According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano, the 49ers voided Aiyuk's 2026 guarantees, in part, because of "Aiyuk's failure to show up for rehab appointments during the offseason." Aiyuk also raised red flags last December by posting a video of himself driving 104 miles per hour past the 49ers' Levi's Stadium.
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San Francisco's general manager told reporters in January that it was "safe to say that he's played his last snap with the Niners." So, it isn't a surprise that ESPN's Nick Wagoner reported on Wednesday that Aiyuk could be released at the start of the new league year at 4 p.m. today. If not, then "certainly soon," with a post-June 1 designation. But another part of Wagoner's report raised eyebrows.
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"Washington is the most likely landing spot for Aiyuk, probably on a one-year prove-it deal," Wagoner wrote.
The Washington Commanders have experience with former 49ers wide receivers. San Francisco traded All-Pro Deebo Samuel to Washington last March. If Aiyuk does land in D.C., it will mark another move in a pattern displaying that Washington is serious about ensuring last season's 5-12 record is an anomaly. Outside of Pro Bowler Terry McLaurin, the Commanders' wide receiver room needs help.
The NFL's legal tampering window, which allows teams to negotiate with impending unrestricted free agents, opened on Monday. Deals can be signed and finalized at the start of the new league year on Wednesday. So far in the legal tampering window, the Commanders have agreed to terms with former Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal, former Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Odafe Oweh, former Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson, and former Houston Texans defensive tackle Tim Settle Jr.
Adding Aiyuk wouldn't automatically improve the offense, given that the 2020 No. 25 overall pick is among the league's biggest wild cards entering 2026. But, when healthy and engaged, Aiyuk posted 75 receptions for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns across 16 games in 2023.
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