The San Francisco 49ers are going to regroup after this season concludes. While there will be plenty of injured players expected to return for the 2026 campaign, one name that is feels like a lock to be on another team is wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
That was essentially confirmed by general manager John Lynch, who said at his end of season press conference that it was "safe to say" Aiyuk played his last snap for the Niners.
Oh, and head coach Kyle Shanahan alleged that Aiyuk stopped showing up to the facility and didn't keep in contact with the team.
So, now the question remains where Aiyuk will end up if San Francisco is truly set on moving on from him.
Well, there is one quarterback that appears interested, and it's probably not a surprising name for 49ers fans.
During an interview with Yahoo! Sports Nate Tice, Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels was asked if there was a certain type of wide receiver he was going to vouch for.
Daniels said, "maybe someone from Arizona State in my past." When Tice brought up, "lives on the West Coast," Daniels said "yeah."
Fine, it sounds like there is at least one person still leaving a light on for Aiyuk...pic.twitter.com/fN8nl6ksAt https://t.co/HNPQoMg05T
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) February 8, 2026
Jayden Daniels sounds open for Commanders to add Brandon Aiyuk
Yes, the receiver that Daniels was hinting at is Aiyuk, as the two were teammates for the Arizona State Sun Devils. They played together for the 2019 season, where Aiyuk recorded 65 receptions for 1,192 yards and eight touchdowns in 12 games. Aiyuk then went on to declare for the NFL Draft, where he was drafted by the Niners in the first round.
Daniels, meanwhile, stayed for two more seasons at Arizona State before transferring to LSU in 2022.
Aiyuk hasn't been shy in flirting with the idea of playing for the Commanders to reunite with his former quarterback. Back in 2024, Aiyuk was seeking a new contract extension with San Francisco. He openly said he could see himself playing for the Commanders, and even posted video of himself watching Commanders practice tape.
Ultimately, the 49ers and Aiyuk agreed to terms on a four-year, $120 million contract extension -- one the Niners surely regret now.
During the 2024 season, Aiyuk suffered a torn ACL midway through. He didn't log a single snap in 2025, and the 49ers voided guarantees on his contract, which went public back in November, and the receiver was placed on the reserve/left squad list in December.
It feels like a foregone conclusion the Niners will part ways with Aiyuk. But would a team like the Commanders give up assets to acquire him in a trade, considering how ugly his exit from San Francisco has been?
If Daniels has his way, yes.