Kyle Shanahan admits 49ers have to be selfish with regard to Brandon Aiyuk

At their end-of-season press conference last January, general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan effectively guaranteed wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk wouldn't play for the San Francisco 49ers ever again after he went AWOL during the second half of the year.

That led many to believe the pass catcher would be released outright once the league new year began.

But that hasn't happened. Aiyuk is still very much rostered, and it doesn't appear as if the Niners are in a hurry to proverbially kick him out of the building.

With the 2026 NFL Draft just weeks away, Shanahan told reporters how San Francisco doesn't have any immediate plans to part ways with Aiyuk while also admitting there was hope another team out there would offer up a trade of some kind for the disgruntled receiver.

"Don't have date [for moving Aiyuk]," Shanahan said, per Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News. "Eventually will resolve itself. Hopefully, we can get something for it. We're in no rush. We have to do what's right for the 49ers."

Now, some have viewed the Niners holding onto Aiyuk as petty, a game in which they won't let him go so he'd be free to sign wherever he wants. In doing so, San Francisco is forcing other teams to consider contingency plans while also denying Aiyuk a chance to gain chemistry with whatever offense he'd find himself in.

The Washington Commanders are widely seen as the likeliest of landing spots. But, according to recent reports, they're not interested in trading for Aiyuk since they're aware the 49ers will eventually release him.

As Shanahan said, though, the Niners can be selfish and "do what's right" for them. They have no urgency to assist Aiyuk's efforts to play elsewhere.

And if San Francisco somehow manages to get something (anything) in return, it'd be that much better.

Even if that's a long shot.