It would have made perfect sense if the San Francisco 49ers finally released disgruntled wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk once the 2026 NFL new year hit at 4 p.m. ET on March 11. In doing so, they would have been done with him. Finished. Hands wiped clean. Drama-filled story over.
But the Niners didn't do that. And they still haven't released the AWOL receiver.
Now, this doesn't mean general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan have had some sort of change of heart. No, they're both adamant Aiyuk has played his last snap in a San Francisco uniform (ironically, back in 2024).
The morning after the league new year passed, ESPN's Adam Schefter dropped some clarity on the situation.
And by "clarity," we mean muddying the waters in an attempt to make things more complicated.
Adam Schefter update clouds Brandon Aiyuk's post-49ers future even more
Speaking with Mina Kimes on ESPN's NFL Live (h/t @CoachYac on X), Schefter suggested an Aiyuk release wasn't at all imminent, admitting the 49ers can hold onto their Round 1 pick from the 2020 draft as long as they'd like:
Adam Schefter on the Brandon Aiyuk situation:
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) March 12, 2026
“I know it says they are planning to release him, but I would like to add on that they’re not planning to release him anytime soon. They essentially have no guaranteed money left on his contract, so they can hold onto him for the… pic.twitter.com/7xoBXyAjmC
"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," Schefter said.
Now, there are two logical reasons why Lynch and Co. would delay Aiyuk's imminent release.
The first, as Schefter pointed out, is the dwindling possibility of a trade market developing for the receiver's services. Potentially, should a team miss out on its preferred targets over the opening wave of free agency, the Niners may get a call asking about Aiyuk. And while his stock value couldn't be much lower than it is now, at least San Francisco would get something in return.
Simultaneously, though, Lynch and Shanahan obviously know what Schefter and the rest of the NFL world knows: Aiyuk badly wants to play with his friend and former collegiate teammate at ASU, Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels.
And all signs are pointing to a Daniels-Aiyuk reunion in Washington immediately after the 49ers process a release.
So, from the Niners' perspective, why launch that now? Why not make Aiyuk and even the Commanders wait?
And wait. And wait.