The 49ers want to extract some value for wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk via trade, but the Commanders, who have been viewed as the likeliest Aiyuk destination, reportedly have no interest in trading for him. Washington would only be interested in Aiyuk if he were to be released, and the same is apparently true for other clubs who might consider a flier on the 28-year-old.
Two rival executives tell ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that Aiyuk is simply “untradeable” (video link). At this point, the reasons for that are well-documented.
Aiyuk suffered a torn ACL and MCL in Week 7 of the 2024 season, less than two months after signing a four-year, $120MM extension. He landed on PUP to begin the 2025 campaign, and there was some belief he could make a late-season return to the lineup. But Aiyuk was described as “extremely distant” during his rehab, which led San Francisco to make the drastic decision to void the remaining guarantees on his contract.
More recently, we learned the Niners continue to have difficulties getting in touch with the Arizona State product, which Fowler confirmed. The fact that Aiyuk has been on the shelf since October 2024, the strange rift with his current club, and his contract situation have all conspired to make him an unappealing trade candidate.
Despite their decision to void Aiyuk’s remaining guarantees, the 49ers do owe him a ~$25MM option bonus in early September that, if exercised, would be prorated through 2030 (if declined, that money would be due all at once). Of course, an acquiring team would inherit that obligation, in addition to base salaries of $27.27MM in 2027 and $29.15MM in 2028. While those salaries are not guaranteed, the overall picture does not help GM John Lynch’s trade efforts.
However, the September option date does create a deadline that is still several months away, so Lynch can string the process along in the hopes that a WR-needy club decides to take a gamble. Fowler does not foresee that happening, though he does not completely foreclose the possibility that Lynch may still be able to salvage a trade here. Perhaps another team will deal with an injury or underperformance in training camp that will make the chance of Aiyuk replicating his stellar 2023 performance (75 catches for 1,342 yards and seven TDs) worth the risk.
As of Monday afternoon, Lynch will be able to release Aiyuk as a post-June 1 cut, thereby allowing him to spread a $35MM dead money charge over the 2026 and ‘27 seasons.
I am glad the Steelers dodged that bullet!
Man, I really hope Aiyuk is okay. This behavior is so harmful to himself- he’s already cost himself millions of dollars, but also burning bridges and putting himself in a terrible light- it’s remindful of the behavior of people who are spiralling deep into depression and cutting themselves off from everything good in their life. Just the fact that this seemed to crop up after the injury, and being away from football, I dunno… all of this is speculation, but I’ve encountered similar patterns with people in my life, and it’s raising all kinds of red flags.
I know it’s easy to dunk on this guy right now. And if it turns out this is just spoiled athlete petulance, well, there’s plenty of time to continue dunking on him later. But we should keep an open mind that Aiyuk might not even like how he’s behaving, but is in a place right now that he can’t stop spiraling and maybe even actively forcing events to get worse.