Commanders Not Interested In Trading For 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk
The draft came and went without a Brandon Aiyuk resolution emerging. A parting of ways with the 49ers is still expected in his case, with the Commanders looming as his likeliest destination.
Aiyuk has three years remaining on his contract, one which no longer includes any guaranteed salary. San Francisco’s preference would be to execute a trade and by doing so recoup draft capital for player who received a $30MM-per-year investment from the team in 2024. Suitors, on the other hand, are positioned to wait for a release and approach Aiyuk as a free agent.
Washington is among them in that regard. Matt Barrows and Nicku Jhabvala of The Athletic report the Commanders are viewed around the league as being “steadfast in their unwillingness” to work out a trade for Aiyuk. The team’s plan remains a free agent signing of the 28-year-old. Barrows and Jhabvala unsurpisingly add Washington is eyeing a short-term deal laden with incentives if/when Aiyuk hits the open market.
The former first-rounder will obviously not be able to match the four-year, $120MM pact he landed in 2024 when his next contract is worked out. Nevertheless, Aiyuk could offer a boost to a Washington offense which still has Terry McLaurin in the fold but remains on track to lose Deebo Samuel. Commanders general manager Adam Peters was in the 49ers’ front office when Aiyuk was drafted. A signing would allow for a reunion on that front along with one between Aiyuk and quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Aiyuk seemed at various points to be on track for a return to the fold in 2025 after his previous season had been cut short by ACL and MCL tears. He never returned to the team, however, a factor which contributed to the rift which has become clearer over time. The 49ers have engaged in trade talks regarding Aiyuk, but Barrows and Jhabvala confirm the team is no rush to proceed with a release at this time. It could be until well into the summer before Aiyuk becomes available depending on the how willing the Commanders are to avoid a trade agreement.
During a recent Pat McAfee Show appearance, ESPN’s Adam Schefter noted the 49ers have still had difficulties getting in touch with Aiyuk. Notably, he added the same is also true of other teams which could be interested in acquiring him. Communication with the Commanders in particular could go a long way in bringing this saga toward its conclusion, and it will be interesting to see if things pick up soon in that regard.
Commanders Still Viewed As Brandon Aiyuk’s 2026 Destination; 49ers Not Eyeing Release
The 49ers have reshaped their receiver room this offseason, bringing in veterans and rookies alike. It is still expected that Brandon Aiyuk will never play for San Francisco again, but he is not on the verge of free agency.
Aiyuk did not play at all in 2025, and the 49ers’ decision to void guarantees in his contract paved the way for a potential trade. Suitors are naturally more interested in acquiring the former second-team All-Pro after the 49ers release him, whereas San Francisco would prefer a trade agreement. This situation may not end any time soon, something which was further illustrated on Saturday.
During NFL Network’s draft coverage, Ian Rapoport reported (video link) a release is still expected to eventually take place in this case. He added, to no surprise, the Commanders remain a team with “significant interest” in adding Aiyuk. Washington has previously been mentioned as a logical destination; Aiyuk and quarterback Jayden Daniels were once teammates at Arizona State. Adding a veteran receiver would help boost an offense which will again have Terry McLaurin in 2026 but is without Deebo Samuel (who is unsigned at this point).
When speaking reporters following the draft, 49ers general manager John Lynch confirmed (via ESPN’s Nick Wagoner) the team’s plans do not include an Aiyuk release at this time. A trade is still San Francisco’s target. Conversations with interested teams have taken place previously, and they could pick up once more as the offseason progresses. Nevertheless, a holding pattern may be in place until a strong trade offer emerges or the September deadline approaches for the 49ers to proceed with a release before Aiyuk’s option bonus is paid out.
“We’re available. Give us a call,” Lynch said (via Wagoner’s colleague Adam Schefter) when speaking about Aiyuk on Saturday. “And like I said earlier, I think it’s the prudent thing to do. He’s an extremely talented player. He’s been an extremely effective player in our league; situation didn’t work itself out here. That’s not to say that it can’t be rekindled somewhere else. And we’d be happy to do something with anyone if the opportunity presented itself.”
It will be interesting to see if non-Commanders suitors emerge over the coming weeks with the 49ers still aiming to recoup draft capital via a trade. If not, Washington will remain a team to watch closely regarding an Aiyuk signing if/when he becomes a free agent.
49ers Draft De’Zhaun Stribling At No. 33
The 49ers opened the second round of the NFL draft with an offensive addition on Friday. They selected Ole Miss wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling 33rd overall.
San Francisco entered the draft with the 27th pick, but it arrived at 33 after trading down twice. The 49ers moved to 30th in a deal with the Dolpins and then went down three more spots in a trade with the Jets. General manager John Lynch was open to offers for the 33rd choice, but he instead stayed put and bolstered the 49ers’ receiving corps.
The 6-foot-2, 202-pound Stribling, nephew of WWE Hall of Famer Don “The Rock” Muraco, played at three different schools during a five-year college career. He combined for an impressive 95 catches and 10 touchdowns at Washington State from 2021-22 before transferring to Oklahoma State. A hand injury limited Stribling to four games and 14 catches in 2023, but he bounced back during a 52-reception, 882-yard, six-touchdown showing the next season. Stribling moved on to Ole Miss last year, where he posted similar production (55-811-6).
While Stribling was rarely mentioned among the top receiver prospects during the pre-draft process, his stock rose thanks in part to his performance at the Combine. Stribling ran a 4.36 in the 40-yard dash. Dane Brugler of The Athletic ranked him as the 67th-best prospect in this class heading into the draft, contending he could turn into a No. 2 or 3 receiver in the pros.
Stribling will now join a Mike Evans-led group of 49ers receivers that also includes 2024 first-rounder Ricky Pearsall and slot wideout Christian Kirk in prominent roles. Meanwhile, Brandon Aiyuk is still under contract, but the 49ers remain hopeful they will find a trade partner, per Adam Schefter of ESPN. That has proven difficult after a tumultuous year-plus for Aiyuk. After tearing his ACL and MCL in October, Aiyuk largely stayed away from the team during a lost 2025. The 49ers inked Aiyuk to a four-year, $120MM extension in August 2024, but they voided the remaining guarantees in his contract last July.
49ers Have Discussed Brandon Aiyuk In Trades; Team May Retain WR Into Summer
Early in free agency, a 49ers plan to release Brandon Aiyuk surfaced. Five-plus weeks later, the disgruntled former All-Pro remains on the team. Aiyuk, who missed all of last season due to injury, saw the 49ers take the rare step to void future guarantees on his deal due to his rehab approach. The wide receiver and the team are headed for a divorce, but it could take much longer to finalize than expected.
John Lynch confirmed this week Aiyuk generated trade discussions at the league meetings, but the 10th-year GM does not expect (per the San Francisco Chronicle’s Eric Branch) anything to happen here during the draft. The updated structure of Aiyuk’s contract gives San Francisco some time, and the team is assuredly not eager to do the receiver any favors based on how things have gone since his extension was finalized.
As our Ben Levine noted recently, an early-September option bonus likely serves as the point of no return for the 49ers with Aiyuk. The WR is due a nearly $25MM bonus that, if picked up, would be prorated through 2030. If it isn’t exercised, then it would be owed all at once. That would drive Aiyuk’s 2026 price to an untenable $26MM. While a future in which the 49ers mend fences with Aiyuk and retain him has been floated (by CEO Jed York), it remains highly unlikely. After all, Lynch said this relationship was essentially over earlier this year.
The September bonus date creates some time for the 49ers to dangle Aiyuk in trades, and Casino.com’s Jason La Canfora notes the team may even prefer stringing this process out into the summer before moving on. This would give Aiyuk less time to acclimate in a new offense, though that is not exactly the 49ers’ chief concern. Kyle Shanahan said as much at the league meetings.
“You’ve got to do what’s right for the Niners, and you’re not trying to hook up any other team as fast as you possibly can,” Shanahan said, via Branch.
Finding a team to take on this contract, after Aiyuk has missed 1 1/2 seasons and became a distraction for his current club, will not be easy. Nonguaranteed base salaries of $27.27MM (2027) and $29.15MM (’28) are in place. An injury to a key receiver elsewhere could lead a team to consider parting with lower-level draft assets for Aiyuk, and a franchise not confident in its ability to lure the former first-round pick in free agency could always swing a deal.
Aiyuk has been closely tied to the Commanders, where he would have considered going in 2024 had the team — one built around ex-Aiyuk Arizona State teammate Jayden Daniels — shown interest during that summer’s trade derby. It would be unlikely Washington would trade for Aiyuk, with the team likely confident it would win a recruiting battle. Lynch may be hoping another team will try and beat the Commanders to the punch with a trade.
The 49ers have added Mike Evans and Christian Kirk to a roster that includes 2024 first-round pick Ricky Pearsall. The team is not expected to re-sign Jauan Jennings, whose price point has not aligned with teams’ valuations, but another receiver move could certainly commence during this week’s draft. Considering the ages of Evans and Kirk and the injury file Pearsall is building, the 49ers may well need to make another investment at WR early in the draft. Aiyuk would theoretically be an option to complement Pearsall and the other veterans, but that bridge is most likely burned. It looks like the seventh-year WR will need to wait before finding a new destination.
NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Crosby, Commanders, Aiyuk, Eagles
The Cowboys were aggressive in trade talks for Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby earlier this offseason, submitting multiple offers before ultimately falling short. Las Vegas agreed to send Crosby to Baltimore for two first-round picks, but the deal fell apart after the five-time Pro Bowler failed the Ravens’ physical. Crosby continues to pop up in trade rumors almost a month later, though Cowboys owner Jerry Jones does not expect to circle back (via Clarence Hill Jr. of All City DLLS). “I don’t anticipate, standing here right now, revisiting that situation,” Jones said. “I don’t anticipate it. Is it possible? Yes.”
While Jones is not slamming the door on another Crosby pursuit, it is notable that Cowboys physician Dr. Dan Cooper raised concerns over the defender’s surgically repaired meniscus before he failed his physical. The Ravens consulted with the well-respected Cooper during the process. Unless Dallas does a 180 on Crosby, its best hope to upgrade its pass rush could be via the draft. The Cowboys are scheduled to pick 12th and 20th in the first round.
Here’s more on Dallas and a pair of NFC East rivals:
- Washington is considered the most likely destination for wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, but San Francisco will have to release him first. The Commanders are not going to trade for Aiyuk, according to John Keim of ESPN. The 49ers are in no rush to cut Aiyuk, who is still tied to the four-year, $120MM extension he signed in August 2024. The team has gotten almost nothing from the deal, as Aiyuk has not played since suffering a knee injury that October. The 28-year-old is now coming off a bizarre season in which he distanced himself from the team during his recovery. The 49ers placed Aiyuk on the reserve/left squad list in December. Odds are they will eventually cut him, but the Commanders are not going to bank on a release and “bypass other potential options,” Keim writes.
- Having lost Reed Blankenship to the Texans in free agency, the Eagles are down a starting safety to pair with Andrew Mukuba. Nickel cornerback Michael Carter II and safety Marcus Epps, whom the Eagles re-signed on the cheap, are among in-house options to fill the void. To no surprise, general manager Howie Roseman intends to address safety during the draft (via Brooks Kubena of The Athletic). “In some shape or form we will add at that position,” Roseman declared.
- Shifting back to Dallas, the team is in the market for a nickel cornerback, Jon Machota of The Athletic relays. No. 1 corner DaRon Bland has slot experience, including 200 snaps last year, but the Cowboys prefer to keep him on the outside. While Reddy Steward amassed 384 slot snaps in 2025, Pro Football Focus ranked his play a lackluster 99th among 112 qualifiers. Notably, the Cowboys have visited with Miami’s Keionte Scott, one of the highest-rated nickel CBs in this year’s draft class.
- The Cowboys will stage “an open competition” between backup quarterbacks Joe Milton and Sam Howell for the No. 2 job, head coach Brian Schottenheimer said (via Machota). The Cowboys sent a fifth-rounder to the Patriots for Milton and a seventh-rounder a year ago. Starter Dak Prescott went on to enjoy a healthy and productive campaign, which left little playing time for Milton. Howell, who joined the Cowboys on a one-year deal last month, was a 17-game starter in Washington in 2023. The 25-year-old has not made a start since then, and he didn’t even play a snap as a third-stringer in Philadelphia last season.
49ers Owner Hints Brandon Aiyuk Could Stick With Team
Back in January, 49ers GM John Lynch made it clear that Brandon Aiyuk had played his final snap for the franchise. However, the team’s owner seems to be walking back those statements.
While speaking with reporters today, Jed York acknowledged that the saga could take several different routes, including one that sees Aiyuk sticking with the 49ers in 2026.
“I think anything’s possible, right?” York said (via ESPN’s Nick Wagoner). “We want to make sure that we have as talented of a roster as possible. First and foremost, he needs to get healthy and be able to perform. I think once that happens, he’s a really, really good football player.”
Aiyuk, of course, once showed off his talent in San Francisco, including 2022 and 2023 campaigns where he hauled in 153 total catches for 2,357 yards and 15 touchdowns. Those performances earned him a four-year, $120MM extension with the organization, but his subsequent 2024 campaign ended with only seven appearances after the WR suffered a torn ACL and MCL.
He landed on PUP to begin the 2025 campaign, and there was initial optimism that he’d make a late-season return to the lineup. Instead, Aiyuk was described as “extremely distant” during his rehab, leading to the 49ers making the drastic decision to void the remaining guarantees on his contract. Lynch later declared the end of Aiyuk’s tenure in San Francisco, and while the front office was hoping to make a trade, a release seemed like the likeliest path. The Commanders seemed like a logical landing spot considering the presence of Aiyuk’s former college QB, Jayden Daniels.
While the team did void the remaining guarantees on the player’s contract, there remains a crucial early-September option bonus. The WR is due a nearly $25MM bonus that, if picked up, would be prorated through 2030. If it isn’t exercised, then it would be owed all at once. As Wagoner notes, that would drive Aiyuk’s 2026 price to an untenable $26MM. The 49ers surely wouldn’t commit to that kind of meaning, and considering the wideout’s apparent issues with the organization, it seems unlikely he’d rework his deal. In other words, a divorce still seems like the likeliest path, regardless of York’s comments.
Either way, it doesn’t sound like this ordeal would somehow extend beyond September. While speaking with reporters today, Lynch still seems committed to getting rid of his former star WR.
“I don’t have a date for it, but I know eventually it’ll resolve itself,” Shanahan said. “Hopefully, we could get something for [him]. And I know we’re in no rush to do that. You’ve got to do what’s right for the Niners, and you’re not trying to hook up any other team as fast as you possibly can. Hopefully, we can get something for that, and it’ll take care of itself.”
Commanders Rumors: Pierce, Aiyuk
The Commanders were “aggressive” in their pursuit of Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce when the NFL’s legal negotiating window opened March 9, but he stayed put on a four-year, $114MM contract. It turns out he nearly ended up in Washington. Had Pierce reached the open market, he “absolutely” would have signed with the Commanders, a source told John Keim of ESPN.
After seemingly finishing second in the Pierce sweepstakes, Washington was the runner-up in the Romeo Doubs derby the next day. Doubs left the Packers for the Patriots’ four-year, $68MM pact, but the Commanders were reportedly “very close” to landing him.
While the Commanders still have not found a capable complement to No. 1 receiver Terry McLaurin, they have bolstered their pass-catching group in adding former Titans tight end Chig Okonkwo and making modest investments at receiver (Dyami Brown, Treylon Burks, Van Jefferson). Impact options at the position continue to dwindle in free agency, though. Jauan Jennings and Deebo Samuel, who spent last season in Washington, are among the most appealing unsigned wideouts remaining.
Samuel led a banged-up Commanders receiving corps in catches (72), targets (99), yards (727) and touchdowns (five) last year, but he hasn’t drawn any known interest from Washington or elsewhere this offseason. The Commanders are expected to target one of Samuel’s former 49ers teammates, Brandon Aiyuk, though San Francisco will have to part with him first. While Aiyuk starred during his most recent full season in 2023, his stock has plummeted since then. As such, it is “unlikely” the Commanders will trade for Aiyuk or submit anything more than a one-year, prove-it offer if the 49ers release him, Keim writes.
In 2024, the first season of a four-year, $120MM contract, Aiyuk caught only 25 of 47 targets for 374 yards and no touchdowns before tearing his ACL and MCL in Week 7. He has not played since then.
While Aiyuk was on the mend from surgery last July, the 49ers voided the remaining guarantees on his deal because they were not happy with his rehab efforts. They eventually placed Aiyuk on the reserve/left squad list in December, ending any chance he would play in 2025.
Delving into the Aiyuk drama as a guest on the Bussin’ with the Boys podcast this week, 49ers tight end George Kittle revealed (via Coach Yac): “The last time I saw Aiyuk, he was kinda at training camp, kinda not and then he was in and out of the building throughout the first couple of weeks. Then I started going out to see him in the weight room because he didn’t go into the locker room or the training room anymore. He would just go into the weight room to do his rehab. I would go there and talk to him because he didn’t go to meetings or anything like that. I would just talk to him and let him know ‘I’m your guy. Just letting you know I love ya’. I started doing that Week 6 and then a week later that story came out about all the crazy stuff and then I didn’t see him again.”
Although Aiyuk has the talent to revive his career, it is no surprise that the Commanders and the rest of the league are wary of trading for him or handing over a sizable contract. But whether it’s Aiyuk or someone else, it would be ideal for Washington to find another starting-level receiver this offseason. General manager Adam Peters has come up empty in his efforts so far.
49ers Plan To Release Brandon Aiyuk; Commanders Most Likely Landing Spot?
The Brandon Aiyuk saga is nearing an end in San Francisco. The 49ers plan to release the wide receiver, Nick Wagoner of ESPN reports. The team could cut Aiyuk as early as today, per Wagoner, who points to the Commanders as his most likely landing spot.
A 49er since they spent the 25th pick on him in 2020, Aiyuk immediately became a key part of head coach Kyle Shanahan‘s offense. During his best season, 2023, Aiyuk hauled in 75 passes for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns to earn second-team All-Pro honors. A lengthy contract standoff between Aiyuk and the 49ers occurred during the next offseason.
Unable to reach a deal, San Francisco had an Aiyuk trade in place with Pittsburgh in August 2024. However, after the Steelers’ extension offer for Aiyuk fell short, he agreed to stay with the 49ers two weeks later.
The 49ers kept Aiyuk around with a four-year, $120MM proposal that included $76MM in guarantees, but they will end up receiving little to nothing from the investment. Over his first seven games in 2024, Aiyuk caught just 25 of 47 targets for 374 yards and no scores. His season ended with a torn ACL and MCL in Week 7. Aiyuk has not suited up since then.
While Aiyuk was recovering from his injury last July, the 49ers voided the remaining guarantees on his contract. The team had issues with his rehab effort, and Shanahan revealed that Aiyuk was “extremely distant” during the process. Aiyuk could have filed a grievance against the 49ers through the NFLPA, but he let the 50-day window expire and lost over $26MM.
With Aiyuk still on the reserve/PUP list at the beginning of December, general manager John Lynch expressed hope that he would return down the stretch. Any chance of that vanished when the 49ers put the 27-year-old on the reserve/left squad list on Dec. 13. Lynch said in late January that the 49ers would move on from Aiyuk this offseason, though he has held out for a trade. With the new league year commencing Wednesday afternoon, it does not appear Lynch will find a taker for Aiyuk.
If the 49ers designate Aiyuk a post-June 1 release, they will spread almost $35MM in dead money over the next two seasons ($13.33MM in 2026, $21.25MM in ’27). The team will save $1.32MM on next year’s cap, though those funds will not be available until June.
Once he reaches the open market, Aiyuk will immediately become one of the most talented players available. However, considering the bizarre turn his 49ers tenure took, the 6-foot, 200-pounder will likely have to settle for a short-term contract.
For multiple reasons, Washington has stood out as an obvious Aiyuk fit for months. The team is cognizant of how much he wants to play there, according to John Keim of ESPN. Aiyuk would reunite with Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels seven years after the two established a rapport at Arizona State in 2019. Adam Peters, now the Commanders’ GM, was in the 49ers’ front office when they drafted Aiyuk a year later.
With the Commanders in need of receivers beyond No. 1 option Terry McLaurin, Peters has been aggressive on this year’s market. Peters tried to sign Alec Pierce and Romeo Doubs before they reeled in lucrative paydays elsewhere. Having come up empty in those pursuits, Peters could turn his attention to Aiyuk soon.
49ers Holding Out Hope For Brandon Aiyuk Trade, In Talks With Jauan Jennings
Brandon Aiyuk will not be a 49er in 2026. John Lynch confirmed that last month. For now, though, the former All-Pro wide receiver remains on San Francisco’s roster and will be part of it for a bit longer.
Lynch said from the Combine that Aiyuk will remain with the team until the start of the league year (March 11), indicating (via The Athletic’s Matt Barrows) a trade will be sought. The Combine serves as an annual venue to gauge trade interest, and Lynch plans to do so with Aiyuk.
Although the 49ers’ options are limited here, they could hope for late-round compensation — perhaps from a team not confident in luring the seventh-year veteran in free agency. The 49ers worked with Aiyuk during his 2024 trade saga, and he had multiple destinations — Cleveland, New England — he preferred to avoid then. It does not seem like the team would do the disgruntled wideout any favors, though a team trading for Aiyuk’s contract would need assurances he would be content with such a move — especially after the events of the past year.
The 49ers voided Aiyuk’s guarantees last July, representing rarely traversed terrain for a player who did not incur a suspension. Issues with Aiyuk’s rehab effort triggered that decision, and Kyle Shanahan said he was unable to reach the 27-year-old pass catcher after a certain point. That led to his placement on the reserve/left squad list.
Due to bonus proration, an Aiyuk trade would cost the 49ers $29.59MM in dead money. They were tagged with a receiver-record $34.12MM in dead cap from the Deebo Samuel trade. With the 49ers only receiving a fifth-round pick for Samuel, the upcoming Aiyuk trade/release will mark a disappointing ending for the team with its long-running wideout tandem.
It would seem the 49ers will need to release Aiyuk, who has missed 1 1/2 seasons due to an ACL tear suffered in October 2024. Aiyuk did not suffer a clean tear, and his strange 2025 course creates questions for teams as well. After being rather deep at receiver for a while, the 49ers were low on bodies there in 2025. They have more questions to answer as free agency nears.
Jauan Jennings is unsigned after receiving only an incentive package last year. The 28-year-old pass catcher has overachieved as a former seventh-round pick, and this offseason represents his window to cash in. After expressing interest in re-signing Jennings, Lynch said the team has spoken with the free agent-to-be. Though, the 49ers will gauge his market at the Combine. Their exclusive negotiating window expires March 9 when the legal tampering period begins.
After a 975-yard 2024 season, Jennings produced 643 yards — to go with a career-high nine touchdown receptions — last season. With Aiyuk shelved and Ricky Pearsall regularly unavailable, the 49ers relied on Jennings. After signing his two-year, $11.89MM extension when he was the team’s WR3 alongside Aiyuk and Samuel, he could return as San Francisco’s top wideout. Though, the 49ers will certainly be looking at outside help at this position.
Wide receiver is not the only place housing priority free agents. Kicker Eddy Pineiro is also unsigned. While the kicker/punter tag is the cheapest available, Lynch said (via The Athletic’s Vic Tafur) the in-season signee will not be tagged.
The 49ers are interested in re-signing Pineiro, who became the team’s Jake Moody replacement. Pineiro, 30, made 28 of 29 field goals in his 14-game San Francisco season. He led the NFL in make rate. OverTheCap projects the kicker/punter tag to come in around $7MM. The 49ers will look to re-sign Pineiro at a lower rate.
Lynch: Brandon Aiyuk Done With 49ers
The 49ers not only were missing three first-team All-Pro talents — George Kittle, Nick Bosa, Fred Warner — to close the season, but they played the full 2025 slate without former second-team All-Pro Brandon Aiyuk. A divorce is now imminent.
Long expected to move on from the talented wideout, the 49ers will soon make it official. John Lynch said Wednesday (via ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner) “it is safe to say” Aiyuk has played his final snap with the franchise.
Aiyuk landed on the team’s reserve/left squad list weeks ago, after Kyle Shanahan said the mercurial pass catcher has been “extremely distant” since his October 2024 ACL tear. Aiyuk’s approach to rehabbing that injury led the 49ers to take the ultra-rare step of voiding his future guarantees; that happened back in July, though it was not known until November. This came after Aiyuk’s return timetable continued to be pushed back, burning a full season — Aiyuk’s age-27 campaign — for a highly valued player.
After five seasons rolling out the Aiyuk-Deebo Samuel combo, the 49ers will separate from both in a two-offseason span. Although no money is guaranteed beyond 2025, Aiyuk will still tag the 49ers with nearly $30MM in cap penalties due to void years and option bonuses included in his four-year, $120MM contract. This comes after the Samuel trade tagged San Francisco with a receiver-record $34.12MM in dead cap. The Samuel money is off the books now, however, since that trade came before June 1 of last year.
When Aiyuk signed his $30MM-per-year deal, he locked in $45MM at signing. A $26.15MM 2026 guarantee vested in April 2025, but the 49ers have voided that. It is extraordinarily rare for a non-suspension to void guarantees. Aiyuk’s injury and disappearance will obviously hurt his value for 2026. Although interested parties will emerge, anything close to a $30MM-per-year deal appears unlikely. It might take a “prove it” pact, and going into an age-28 season, Aiyuk is running short on time to move back into a commanding leverage position. It remains strange he proceeded as he did, with Lynch also expressing confusion (via The Athletic’s Vic Tafur) at the wideout’s decisions.
Furthermore, Shanahan said (via The Athletic’s Matt Barrows) Aiyuk ended all communication by not returning any phone calls from 49ers staffers. The veteran coach said he had not seen that happen in 22 years in the business. While Aiyuk may not have torched his value on a Diontae Johnson level, it remains befuddling he proceeded as he did given the guaranteed money in his contract.
The Commanders and Steelers are believed to be interested parties, though the report of Pittsburgh interest came before it was known Mike Tomlin would resign. Tomlin represented the driving force behind the Aiyuk-Steelers near-trade in 2024. Aiyuk would have signed off on a Washington trade to reunite with college teammate Jayden Daniels, but the Commanders did not express significant interest in a trade/extension.
A release is expected, though a late-November report indicated a trade is not entirely off the table. It would still come as a surprise. If the 49ers designate Aiyuk as a post-June 1 cut, the team could save more than $6MM in cap space while incurring barely $8MM in dead money this year. That would seemingly be the way this ends, considering the six-year veteran’s value drop since his severe knee injury.
Aiyuk did not suffer a clean ACL tear, and the 49ers did not expect him back until midway through this season. As recently as early December, the team was hoping for a return. But nothing happened. The two-time 1,000-yard receiver will be looking to bounce back with another team, and an open-market trip would be interesting.
The 49ers seeing Ricky Pearsall miss eight games and Jauan Jennings on track for free agency will make receiver a central need in 2026. The team would like to re-sign Jennings, Shanahan said (via Tafur). Jennings, 28, was not as effective as 2024, when he totaled 975 yards. That drove a push for a new contract, and the 49ers did provide incentives as a compromise. Jennings caught 55 passes for 643 yards, though he did finish with a career-high nine touchdown grabs. He did cash in a $600K incentive for playoff participation, CBS Sports’ Joel Corry tweets.
San Francisco has Pearsall and Demarcus Robinson in the picture at receiver for 2026, necessitating multiple additions to Brock Purdy‘s weaponry cadre — especially with Kittle rehabbing an Achilles tear.