Since April, a potential Brandon Aiyuk trade has dominated NFL headlines. The fifth-year wide receiver either wants a contract extension from the San Francisco 49ers or a trade. But Aiyuk doesn’t want to go just anywhere. He reportedly wasn’t interested in a trade to the Cleveland Browns or the New England Patriots.
While not official, it appears that Aiyuk’s preferred destinations are remaining with the 49ers or a trade to the Pittsburgh Steelers or Washington Commanders.
Throughout the offseason, Aiyuk hinted at a potential trade to Washington, where he’d join his good friend Jayden Daniels. Daniels, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, was teammates with Aiyuk for one season at Arizona State, and the two are close.
While the Commanders were interested in Aiyuk at one point, that ship had long since sailed, and it looked like Aiyuk would be in San Francisco or Pittsburgh in 2024.
On Thursday, Washington traded 2022 first-round pick Jahan Dotson to the Philadelphia Eagles. Could a questionable depth chart at receiver beyond Terry McLaurin put the Commanders back in the mix?
According to Mike Silver of the San Francisco Chronicle, yes, it could.
Latest on Aiyuk from @MikeSilver with Tolbert and @Adamcopes:
"My updated information is that everything is still on the table, including all the trades you've heard about… That Steelers scenario… I wouldn't rule out Washington."
Back and forth we go.
Photo: Sergio… pic.twitter.com/COmmMpSPpm
— KNBR (@KNBR) August 22, 2024
Not only has Silver covered San Francisco for years, but he’s plugged in throughout the NFL.
Silver isn’t reporting anything. He’s just saying everything remains on the table. Washington general manager Adam Peters came from the 49ers and is close with San Francisco GM John Lynch. It would make sense for Peters to keep tabs on Aiyuk, even if he’s unwilling to meet Lynch’s price.
Several around the NFL reconnected Washington to Aiyuk on Thursday after the Commanders traded Dotson. However, a deal still seems unlikely, given Washington is in the first year of a new regime and Peters values draft capital. And if the 49ers insist on a wide receiver in return, trading McLaurin is a non-starter.
As we’ve learned throughout this saga, stay tuned.