The San Francisco 49ers' immediate plans for disgruntled wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk this offseason became clear when they opted not to release him outright at the start of the new league season on March 11.
This, despite general manager John Lynch telling reporters how Aiyuk had already played his final snap in a Niners uniform after going AWOL in 2025.
Retaining Aiyuk at this point isn't about some far-fetched hope of the situation taking a complete 180 turn; some sort of reconciliation between the two parties.
Rather, it's about San Francisco trying to get something, anything in exchange for the controversial receiver on the trade market. While it might seem petty from an outside vantage point, it makes sense from the business perspective.
And there's one team the 49ers are hoping will bite via trade.
The Washington Commanders have long seemed to be Aiyuk's preferred destination. Indeed, it's no secret he has a desire to play with his old ASU collegiate teammate, quarterback Jayden Daniels, and the link between Lynch and Washington general manager Adam Peters is already there.
That said, the Commanders don't exactly seem eager to offer up any sort of compensation back to Lynch and Co. for Aiyuk's services, according to a recent report.
Commanders aren't eager to trade with 49ers for Brandon Aiyuk
ESPN's John Keim, who covers Washington, indicated there's no desire from the Commanders to dish out any sort of draft capital to the Niners in exchange for Aiyuk:
"Multiple team sources said Washington is well aware of Aiyuk's desire to play with Daniels. But Aiyuk remains under contract and the Commanders would be unlikely to trade for him or, when free, sign him to anything other than a one-year, prove-it deal."
This, too, makes plenty of sense from Washington's standpoint.
The Commanders, as well as the other 30 teams in the league, are fully aware San Francisco will show Aiyuk the door at some point between now and September, so why send even a late day-three draft pick to land a player who'll be made available later this offseason anyway? Plus, Washington would want to execute its own contract with Aiyuk, particularly after his brutal 2024 ACL and MCL injuries, rather than inherit the one signed with the 49ers earlier that year.
In response, though, the Niners can hold onto Aiyuk and delay such a signing as long as possible, preventing Daniels and Co. from generating a chemistry with their new offensive tool until late in the offseason.
Pettiness all around. But both teams have their fair arguments, and it's hard to see either side budging at any point soon.