Brandon Aiyuk is no closer to joining the Washington Commanders. That might be the wide receiver's eventual destination before the 2026 season, but it doesn't look like it's going to be anytime soon.
And for one Niners insider, the question of whether all this drama and unnecessary distraction is worth it is firmly at the forefront of his thoughts.
The Commanders are unlikely to trade for Aiyuk, and the Niners are dug in. They want to sort out a trade rather than just release him outright. Head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch both believe they still have leverage, and they've been stung enough by the 2020 first-round pick out of Arizona State to make this extremely uncomfortable for the wideout.
49ers insider questions San Francisco's approach with Brandon Aiyuk as Commanders wait
Matt Barrows of The Athletic goes back and forth about whether the Niners are taking the correct approach with Aiyuk. This relationship has already gone way past the point of no return. So for the insider, this is all about San Francisco trying to save some blushes by getting something back in return.
“I go back and forth. Despite what Jed York said, obviously, that relationship has ended. So if it ended, why drag it further than what it’s already been dragged?
"There’s a lot of bad blood already between the two sides. Why drag it out even further? But again, they want something in return."
That might be their thought process, albeit with a little bit of pettiness and bitterness attached. San Francisco has been accused of holding Aiyuk hostage, but with three years remaining on his contract, Lynch and Shanahan can do whatever they like until they are forced to take action.
Much has been made about the ongoing saga and the injury history. Aiyuk's salary-cap hits aren't cheap, either, so the prospect of someone coming forward with a late-round draft pick is remote. The Niners will probably drag things out right until the last minute, and if the same trend continues, they'll cut ties.
Until then, the Commanders will proceed as planned.
They are reportedly aware of Aiyuk's desire to reunite with quarterback Jayden Daniels in Washington. That doesn't mean general manager Adam Peters is going to sit on his hands. Washington will strengthen via the 2026 NFL Draft, and several intriguing veteran options remain on the market who could be useful.
Aiyuk would be a nice bonus. But until something is confirmed one way or another, the only other option is to force the issue in pursuit of bringing a quicker-than-expected halt to this soap opera.
Reading between the lines, that's not going to happen unless there is a seismic shift in Peters' thought process.