The San Francisco 49ers would like to trade disgruntled wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
The Washington Commanders don't want to offer up a trade package for the receiver, though, especially knowing it'll eventually happen when the Niners release him outright.
That's precisely what NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said on day three of the 2026 NFL Draft, a point when Aiyuk might've been used as a trade chip but ultimately made it through all seven rounds still on San Francisco's reserve roster.
"They are expected to release him," Rapoport explained. "They just haven't done it yet. What the 49ers would like to do is trade him. The Washington Commanders are expected to have interest—I would say significant interest—but they don't want to make a move for him because they know that the 49ers are going to release him."
It's a classic standoff. Why would Washington dish out draft capital, now for 2027 and beyond, for a receiver it fully knows will eventually become available?
Of course, the 49ers know this, too, and there's nothing preventing them from holding onto Aiyuk, especially after voiding his guarantees after his recovery/AWOL fiasco last season.
There's one thing that might break the stalemate, and it seems as if general manager John Lynch is trying his best to prompt it.
49ers need a bigger trade market to develop for Brandon Aiyuk
It's understandable why there isn't much trade interest in Aiyuk. After all, he hasn't played football in well over a year after suffering his 2024 ACL tear, and how he handled his relationship with the Niners over the last year-plus isn't exactly a great indicator either.
Now that the draft has settled down, though, there may be some teams who aren't wholly satisfied with their wide receiver rooms.
Getting at least one of those other squads potentially interested in Aiyuk might actually prompt the Commanders to do something.
It appears as if Lynch was trying to stoke these flames during his post-draft presser.
"We're available. Give us a call," Lynch said when asked about a would-be Aiyuk trade.
The GM went on to explain how Aiyuk is still a very talented player despite how things went down in the Bay Area, which is the football equivalent of trying to sell high on an asset that appears damaged.
"He's an extremely talented player," Lynch continued. "He's been an extremely effective player in our league. The situation didn't work itself out here. That's not to say that it can't be rekindled somewhere else. And we'd be happy to do something with anyone, if the opportunity presented itself."
If the Commanders suddenly realize there's a bigger market out there for Aiyuk than originally anticipated, or what existed beforehand, they might be convinced to offer up a trade package of some kind.
But a market actually needs to develop first before Washington would sniff the possibility.
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