Brandon Aiyuk has significantly damaged his reputation with a series of social media rants targeting the San Francisco 49ers, his former agent, and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA).
While the disgruntled wide receiver has repeatedly expressed his desire to be released and sign with the Washington Commanders, one longtime 49ers insider believes the fallout has become so severe that Aiyuk’s NFL career may already be over.
Although Aiyuk has made it clear he wants to play in Washington, it’s difficult to imagine many teams being eager to take a chance on the talented but increasingly controversial receiver after his recent online outbursts. If a team is willing to gamble on him, it would likely be on a one-year, veteran-minimum “prove-it” contract.
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area noted that Commanders general manager Adam Peters knows Aiyuk well from their time together in San Francisco, where Peters helped draft the receiver. Peters also has a close relationship with current 49ers general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan.
Over the weekend, Aiyuk launched another bizarre social media tirade, calling Lynch “creepy” and comparing Shanahan’s temperament to that of a “toddler.”
If the Commanders had any level of interest in Aiyuk before, his latest comments would almost certainly give the organization reason to reconsider.
“[Head coach] Dan Quinn doesn’t know him nearly as well [as Peters],” Maiocco said, via Eduardo Razo of Heavy.com. “I don’t know if he knows him at all, but I can’t imagine the Washington Commanders would be going all in for Brandon Aiyuk just because he says that the day the 49ers release him, the Commanders are going to sign him, or that he’s going to sign with the Commanders.
“Is he just speculating because one of his very good friends, Jayden Daniels, is the quarterback of the Washington Commanders? I don’t know. We’ll see. I don’t think it’s out of the realm of possibility, or out of the question, to think that Brandon Aiyuk has played his final NFL game.”
Aiyuk has repeatedly claimed he is prepared to sign with the Commanders the moment the 49ers release him, treating that outcome as a foregone conclusion.
However, there’s no indication Washington has made such a commitment. In fact, Aiyuk remains under contract with the 49ers, and any direct communication from another team regarding a future deal would be viewed as tampering under NFL rules.
Additionally, Aiyuk remains on the 49ers’ reserve/left squad list and reportedly has yet to file the paperwork necessary for NFL reinstatement.
“We shall see how this whole thing materializes and if the Washington Commanders are willing to stick their neck out for Brandon Aiyuk,” Maiocco added, “knowing full well that Jayden Daniels, the guy who is the most important player, the most important person in the Commanders organization, is a really good friend of his. Is that a headache Jayden Daniels needs, or is that a responsibility Jayden Daniels needs?
“Now, I’m sure Jayden wants Brandon Aiyuk on the team. I’m sure he has told Brandon Aiyuk he wants him as a teammate. But if you’re the Commanders’ management or the Commanders’ coaching staff, do you really want to put that on Jayden Daniels as he enters the third year of his contract?”
Whether Aiyuk ultimately returns to the NFL remains to be seen, but his recent public attacks have raised serious questions about his future.
