The Washington Commanders are waiting for a favorable conclusion to the ongoing soap opera between wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and the San Francisco 49ers. Most around the league believe that he will reunite with quarterback Jayden Daniels when he's inevitably released, but that might not be until June if general manager John Lynch believes a willing trade suitor can be found.
There doesn't seem to be much chance of that, and the Niners are now starting to receive backlash from their fans and media. They want this distraction to be cut off for good, but Lynch is well within his rights to make this as difficult as he wants.
General manager Adam Peters will be keeping an eye on developments while also seeking additional wideout help. Even if Aiyuk does join at some point, there is no telling how impactful he could be right away. More is required, but it's still an intriguing proposition.
Brandon Aiyuk could make things even more difficult in pursuit of Commanders switch
Lynch may be waiting for something in return. That won't be much, but it would be something. Even so, one factor is being overlooked that gives San Francisco almost no remaining leverage.
Not only has Lynch already shown his hand by declaring Aiyuk has played his last game for the Niners, but Nick Wagoner of ESPN also highlighted that the wideout has a "de facto no-trade clause" in his contract.
Any team acquiring Aiyuk would need to rework his deal. The 2020 first-round pick out of Arizona State reportedly wants to play in Washington, which means he could be unreceptive to any negotiations with other teams. And it's a lot of money to take on for someone with injury concerns and who may not be all the way in.
Deep down, the Niners probably know this. They can be petty, vindictive, and everything in between, but it won't prevent the eventual outcome. Aiyuk is waiting patiently, knowing he holds a better hand than San Francisco's power brokers think. And when the time comes, he can finally be free.
The Commanders reportedly feel pretty good about Aiyuk, thanks in no small part to some gentle persuasion from Daniels. That doesn't mean there aren't significant risks attached, but if the pass-catcher is so desperate to link up with his old college quarterback, he'll be willing to bet on himself with a one-year, incentivized deal.
The sooner this happens, the sooner everyone can move on.
Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan have been stung, and they feel extremely let down. Aiyuk probably also feels a type of way about how he is treated, so why anyone is prolonging this agony is anyone's guess.
Everyone is tired. Everyone is eager for things to end. And everyone in Washington is excited to see what Aiyuk and Daniels can do together in the pros.
Nothing the Niners are doing will change those facts.