Brandon Aiyuk gets new update from 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers made wide receiver a priority in the 2026 NFL Draft, taking De’Zhaun Stribling out of Ole Miss with their first selection, the No. 33 pick.

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The 49ers have made it clear that they do not intend to play Brandon Aiyuk again. San Francisco voided the guaranteed money due on the contract extension he signed in 2024 because he chose not to rehab at the team’s facility.

Aiyuk tore an ACL and MCL in his right knee in October of 2024. He did not play during the 2025 season.

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On Saturday, 49ers general manager John Lynch said the team has no immediate plans to release Aiyuk. San Francisco wants to find a trade partner for the first-round pick in the 2020 draft.

“Like I said earlier, I think it’s the prudent thing to do,” Lynch said of trading Aiyuk, via 49erswebzone.com. “He’s an extremely talented player. 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.”

Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network is reporting that the Washington Commanders have interest in adding Aiyuk. However, the Commanders don’t plan to trade for the wide receiver because they believe the 49ers will eventually release 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,” Rapoport said. 

“And the 49ers don’t want to release him because they believe the Commanders want him and would potentially trade for him, which is why we’re in this situation right now.”

The 49ers have some leverage here. There is no guarantee that the Commanders would be able to sign Aiyuk off waivers if the 49ers release him. Another team higher up on waivers could sign him first. 

If Washington wants to assure themselves of getting Aiyuk, it will have to make a trade. That would come at a higher cost for a player that gave the 49ers a lot of trouble.

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