It didn't take long for Brandon Aiyuk's name to come up when Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters took to the podium for his media availability at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. Although the front-office leader didn't, and couldn't, say too much, it provided a small window into his thought process.
Aiyuk and the San Francisco 49ers will go their separate ways this offseason in some capacity. The wide receiver's relationship with general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan completely fell apart, leaving them bamboozled and clearly frustrated. The duo claims they have never experienced anything like this in the league with a player.
He cut off all contact, getting the remaining guaranteed money on his contract voided along the way. This immediately sparked speculation that Aiyuk might be seeking to engineer a move away from the NFC West club to reunite with his close friend, Jayden Daniels, in Washington.
Adam Peters believes in second chances, which could lead Brandon Aiyuk to the Commanders
Whether that comes off or not is anyone's guess. Peters stated that he couldn't speak about another player under contract with another team. Even so, Lynch's former right-hand man in San Francisco believes everyone deserves a second chance.
"Brandon Aiyuk is a player on another team under contract, so I can't comment on that. Second chances? Yeah, I think everyone on earth deserves a second chance."Adam Peters
LIVE: GM Adam Peters speaks to the media at the 2026 NFL Combinehttps://t.co/wH1GgZ14BM
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) February 24, 2026
Read into that what you will. But it may just show that Peters is going to do his due diligence about what unfolded between Aiyuk and the Niners.
Daniels will vouch for the move, and we haven't heard the player's side of the story. There is arguably nobody more connected than Peters to get to the bottom of this saga, which should provide some comfort to those Commanders fans who remain dubious about the potential acquisition.
Peters was in San Francisco's front office when they drafted Aiyuk as a first-round pick in 2020. He also has a strong relationship with Lynch and Shanahan, so he will be able to get both sides of the evidence before concluding his own thoughts on the subject.
Then, there's Aiyuk's injury history. He didn't play at all in 2025 after a serious knee complication. There is just no telling what the lingering effects will be, so the Commanders would also need to be satisfied with his rehabilitation progress and future prognosis before taking the plunge.
If Peters truly believes Aiyuk is worth a second chance, he won't hesitate. At the same time, if too much doubt surfaces during his investigations, he'll have the conviction to walk away and pursue other targets. But until the wideout's expected release is confirmed, which Lynch stated won't happen until the new league year begins, it's a waiting game for fans.
Still, Peters was eager to point out that he believes second chances are warranted in the right situation. That makes acquiring Aiyuk even likelier if everything checks out.