The Athletic's Nicki Jhabvala corroborated what many across the league speculated: the Washington Commanders had a heavy interest in signing veteran wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, assuming of course, the San Francisco 49ers were poised to release him.
Speculation made sense. Aiyuk's days with the Niners were counting down in light of his post-2024 injury and ghosting the team thereafter, but given the receiver's friendship with Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels, plus the fact Commanders general manager Adam Peters was with San Francisco when Aiyuk was drafted back in 2020, the seemingly inevitable pairing made sense.
Heck, even Aiyuk couldn't shy away from bragging on social media about joining Washington.
But, as Jhabvala pointed out, the torrent of Aiyuk's social media activity—public attacks on head coach Kyle Shanahan, general manager John Lynch and others—have led to grave concerns in the nation's capital about signing the disgruntled pass catcher:
If the 49ers do release Aiyuk before the start of training camp, the Commanders could still consider him. But they'd have to feel incredibly confident that he's fit, physically and emotionally, to not just sign, but be committed to what they're trying to build. That's a big 'if' given his recent history and the fallout with the 49ers.
Indeed, that's a big "if."
Brandon Aiyuk may have turned off Commanders with his anti-49ers rants
It's one thing to express frustrations with an employer publicly, and Aiyuk certainly was within his right to continue asking for a release at a time when the Niners were still holding onto him despite having zero intention of him ever playing for them again.
However, another surge in social media activity might've been enough to convince Peters and the Commanders that Aiyuk is turning into a headache that's no longer worth exploring.
It'd be one thing to express concern about Aiyuk's health, particularly considering he hasn't stepped on the field since October of 2024 when he tore both his ACL and MCL, and his subsequent rehabilitation was called into question, playing a role in San Francisco voiding his guarantees for 2026.
Despite Aiyuk openly championing Washington now, there's no guarantee things would stay positive upon the receiver jumping ship from the Bay Area.
And if Peters was on the fence, Aiyuk's former personal coach, longtime NFL wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh issued a stern warning (h/t 49ers Webzone) that said, "Adam Peters, you sign Brandon Aiyuk, the Commanders should fire you the day you sign him."
Yikes.
If Washington heeds that advice and reads the proverbial tea leaves, Aiyuk's dream of playing for the Commanders might be over well before it even could begin.
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