A key fact has come into focus regarding the Brandon Aiyuk situation. And it points to a likely conclusion to the 49ers’ portion of the situation by 4:00 p.m. ET today.
The 49ers likely will release Aiyuk.
Although it’s not clear how this happened (the Player Personnel Manual indicates that his 2025 salary of $1.17 million should have tolled into 2026 due to placement on the reserve/left squad list), official NFL records now show Aiyuk as having a base salary of $13.75 million for the balance of 2026. This means that, if he’s on the roster at the close of business on Tuesday, his salary for Week 10 vests — at $1.52 million.
They surely won’t be able to trade him at that number. And they surely don’t want to give him $1.52 million. Even more surely, coach Kyle Shanahan doesn’t want him in the building.
The only realistic option is to cut him.
There’s still a story to be told as to the deal that was done to get the league to reinstate Aiyuk. The NFL and 49ers were putting the squeeze on Aiyuk to refund upwards of $13 million in previously-paid bonus money.
Our guess? Aiyuk wired a sizable payment to the 49ers (maybe $6 million or $7 million), the NFL reinstated him, and now Aiyuk will get his freedom.
The next question will become where he lands.