San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk could be on the move fairly soon.
Aiyuk hasn't played in an NFL game since suffering a torn ACL on Oct. 20, 2024. The belief was that he'd return to the 49ers during the 2025 season, but instead he only made headlines for the wrong reasons. The talented wideout had $27 million in guarantees voided from his contract because he failed to meet certain requirements.
After their playoff run ended in January, 49ers general manager John Lynch made it known that Aiyuk wouldn't be back in the Bay Area for the 2026 season.
"I think it's safe to say that he's played his last snap with the Niners," Lynch said. "It's unfortunate. A situation that just went awry. And I will look long and hard at what could have been done differently, but sometimes it just doesn't work out. And I think that this was a case where that happened."
Back in 2023, Aiyuk cemented his status as a true No. 1 wideout by hauling in 75 passes for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns. Three years later, he's going viral for the wrong reasons.
Just three days ago, the Santa Clara County (Calif.) District Attorney's Office revealed there's a warrant out for Aiyuk's arrest. This warrant stems from an alleged traffic violation that occurred in 2025.
Judging by Aiyuk's social media activity, he's unbothered by his current situation.
Although a trade hasn't been announced yet, Aiyuk sparked trade speculation this Saturday by posting a photo of him wearing a Washington Commanders hat.
Aiyuk later shared a second selfie of him in a Commanders hat along with this cryptic message: "Stop the cap the gig is up!"
The Commanders could make sense for Aiyuk.
Earlier this NFL offseason, ESPN insider Adam Schefter mentioned the Commanders as a suitor for Aiyuk.
"I think they will be holding onto him to see if there's any trade value at all. Washington does make a lot of sense," Schefter said. "He played with Jayden Daniels in college. They're very close. I'm sure Jayden 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."
Perhaps the Commanders will buy low on Aiyuk in hopes that he'll return to his 2023 form.
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