Brandon Aiyuk Trade Rumors: Commanders Not Out on 49ers WR After Jahan Dotson Move

Paul KasabianFeatured Columnist IIAugust 23, 2024

Michael Reaves/Getty Images

The never-ending saga regarding wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk’s future destination now contains another twist, as the Washington Commanders may still be alive for him.

Michael Silver of the San Francisco Chronicle told KNBR that his “reporting suggests that is not dead.”

“I wouldn’t rule out Washington,” Silver said (h/t Alex Kozora of Steelers Depot).

“And I know there have been reports that the Commanders are out. But they just traded a receiver today. Adam Peters and John Lynch obviously can communicate very easily on this. That’s the other team besides the Steelers that Aiyuk has honed in on as where he wants to go. And I know people think that because something gets reported that it’s closed, it’s closed. But I don’t think it’s ever really closed, right? So I would keep an eye on that.”

On Tuesday, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that the 49ers and Aiyuk, who had issued a trade request after previously failed contract negotiations, were progressing on a long-term contract extension.

Jordan Schultz @Schultz_ReportSources: The #49ers and WR Brandon Aiyuk had another meeting yesterday and talks continue to progress on a long-term contract extension. There has been movement on a deal, but there are some minor details that still need to be ironed out with ownership approval. pic.twitter.com/Z0OWumelSF

The day before, Albert Breer of MMQB had this to say regarding Aiyuk, who has been heavily connected to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“The Brandon Aiyuk situation drags on, and I don’t have a whole lot to add on it. The San Francisco 49ers’ star didn’t want to go to New England, which offered him more than $30 million per year in its proposals, or the Cleveland Browns. The Steelers’ price point was less than $28 million, which put Pittsburgh right in the neighborhood the Niners were inhabiting—with Mike Tomlin’s presence there the drawing card.

“That, in turn, pushed Aiyuk back to the table with the Niners.”

The 49errs would appear to be the leaders in the clubhouse for the 26-year-old, who caught 75 passes for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns. He’s entering the final year of his rookie deal and clearly deserving of a lucrative long-term contract.

The question is where. Aiyuk previously said on The Pivot podcast that he’d want to play for the Commanders (currently quarterbacked by his good friend and ex-Arizona State teammate Jayden Daniels) or the Steelers if not for the 49ers.

The Commanders just traded 2022 first-round wide receiver Jahan Dotson to the Philadelphia Eagles, an eyebrow-raising move for a team that invested the No. 16 overall selection in the ex-Penn State star.

That doesn’t necessarily signal a precursor to adding Aiyuk. But still, Silver’s report certainly turns some heads as Aiyuk’s future NFL location remains uncertain.