Most people around the league believe wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk joining the Washington Commanders is a foregone conclusion if he's released by the San Francisco 49ers as expected. But it's not set in stone by any stretch of the imagination.
The Niners are holding out, hoping another team comes forward with a trade offer. It would be nothing more than a seventh-round pick or a late-round pick swap, but it's better than nothing. And according to a recent report, a couple of teams are willing to take a swing.
Aiyuk wants to reunite with quarterback Jayden Daniels. He's working out and wants to play. General manager Adam Peters is reportedly aware of his desires, so it's not hard to connect the dots. However, one NFL analyst thought another team looking to bounce back next season may also want to consider the possibility.
Commanders could have competition for Brandon Aiyuk this offseason
David Latham of Last Words on Sports thought the Kansas City Chiefs make sense for Aiyuk. Patrick Mahomes needs more weapons, and even though they don't have much salary-cap space right now, this would be a difficult proposition for the player to turn down.
"Kansas City must do something to ensure he [Patrick Mahomes] always has an open target, as the wide receiver depth chart lacks proven options behind Rashee Rice. Maybe this is the year first-round pick Xavier Worthy establishes himself as a consistent threat, but it wouldn’t hurt to add an established veteran like Brandon Aiyuk to the mix."
If the Chiefs want Aiyuk, it has to be via trade. If the 2020 first-round pick out of Arizona State gets the chance to choose his next destination, that will likely be Washington. Whether Kansas City is willing to take on his contract is another matter.
Rashee Rice is talented but temperamental. Xavier Worthy hasn't met his first-round billing as yet, and tight end Travis Kelce is far from the force of old. Tyquan Thornton was re-signed, but it remains to be seen whether his ceiling has been reached.
The Chiefs are down, but they are not out. They are looking to stay competitive within the AFC West, which is only getting more difficult. If Aiyuk can stay healthy and focused, he'd be a supreme asset for Mahomes to call upon.
Washington has all the leverage if Aiyuk is cut. The Niners wouldn't like for things to get that far. His time with the franchise is done, but Lynch wants to extract any compensation before parting ways. According to reports, this could go on until June.
Peters won't rely solely on Aiyuk. He's also unlikely to trade for the pass-catcher.
And if someone else is more receptive, Aiyuk's dream of playing with Daniels again will have to wait.