The Washington Commanders had seemingly moved away from attempting to sign wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. However, ESPN insider Adam Schefter doesn't believe general manager Adam Peters has completely ruled it out.
That threatens to open yet another can of worms.
Aiyuk hired Drew Rosenhaus to be his representative, and he has officially applied to the league for reinstatement. The San Francisco 49ers held a meeting with the receiver and his agent on Friday, which didn't come with his immediate release as many expected.
Commanders reportedly haven't closed the door on Brandon Aiyuk's arrival
Just where things go from here is anyone's guess. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said he couldn't care less what happens with Aiyuk. The club has moved on, but they may also wait until after the 2026 trade deadline in one desperate attempt to get an offer.
That isn't likely to come. Aiyuk hasn't played since mid-season in 2024. Even if he is healthy, it'll take him some time to get into legitimate football shape. Teams make trades for immediate help he probably can't provide.
But if San Francisco releases him and he gets to choose his next destination, Schefter thinks the Commanders are still in play. However, that won't happen before further discussions.
"The Commanders haven't completely abandoned the idea of adding wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who was rumored during the summer to end up in Washington, according to sources. Before an Aiyuk deal could happen -- if it were to happen -- the organization would have to have discussions with multiple people. It's not a no, but it's also not a yes just yet."
Schefter gets a lot of information from Rosenhaus. If he's saying the Commanders have not completely closed the door on signing Aiyuk, there is weight to it.
As for those conversations? They will start with quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Commanders need Jayden Daniels to sign off on any Brandon Aiyuk move
Daniels and Aiyuk formed a close friendship during their time together at Arizona State. They remained close, but the wideout's decision to throw shade at the signal-caller and his mother on Instagram probably didn't go down too well.
The quarterback washed his hands of the situation, focusing on the season and the options Daniels had available. Aiyuk was left in the shadows, unwilling to make the moves required to find his way back into the league.
Now, the penny has finally dropped.
Aiyuk has filed paperwork and spoken to the Niners about next steps, all within a week. He issued a statement after the meeting, claiming he was healthy and was eager to be reinstated. These are all positive steps, but there is a lot of damage to repair.
Peters knows Aiyuk well. He'll speak with Daniels and offensive coordinator David Blough. He might also check in on his old friends in San Francisco, but giving up draft capital for the 2020 first-round pick is out of the question.
And given how depleted the Commanders are at receiver, it could be a short-term stopgap while also offering a glimmer of hope for the future.
It's a fluid situation. The Commanders aren't going to rush anything, but if Schefter's report is accurate, there remains intrigue about his potential fit in Washington.
But if Daniels doesn't like it, then it won't happen.
That's the only sure thing in this long-running saga.
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