Brandon Aiyuk has finally made his strongest move yet in a bid to return to the NFL.
With the Washington Commanders depleted at wide receiver, the timing suggests the disgruntled figure hasn't given up on reuniting with quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Whether he gets his wish or not is another matter.
Brandon Aiyuk's NFL comeback bid may not move the Commanders much
Speculation was rampant this offseason around Aiyuk potentially joining the Commanders. Many saw it as a foregone conclusion, but general manager Adam Peters didn't take the plunge.
And when the wideout made questionable choices on social media, the decision to pass on this possibility was all but confirmed.
Aiyuk took shots at everybody. He even threw shade at Daniels while also making it clear that Washington would be his preferred destination. The Arizona State product is still under contract with the San Francisco 49ers, and he showed no desire to apply for reinstatement despite his bold claims on Instagram.
Now, the script has been flipped.
According to ESPN insider Adam Schefter, Aiyuk has hired Drew Rosenhaus to be his representative. The immediate focus now turns to getting him back into the league, but the Niners would also have to do their part by cutting him loose.
They've been reluctant to do that so far. It's been out of sight, out of mind, but if Auiyuk applies for reinstatement and is healthy enough to play, they will have a big decision to make.
Drew Rosenhaus might call Commanders about Brandon Aiyuk, but that's no guarantee
The Niners don't need the distraction, so cutting him if no trade offer comes forward seems likely. That would widen the net, and Rosenhaus is renowned for maximizing situations like this for his players.
The Commanders could use another wide receiver. Terry McLaurin is out for the campaign and potentially beyond with a torn patellar tendon. Stefon Diggs, Treylon Burks, and third-round rookie Antonio Williams were the starting trio against the Philadelphia Eagles, and they played well. But that might not be enough to get back into the playoff picture.
Peters will know that. And with Aiyuk's apparent urgency to get back to work, Rosenhaus' first call might be the Commanders.
This changes something. But for the Commanders, it might not be enough.
Aiyuk and Daniels may no longer be close. The pass-catcher is talented, but he hasn't played since the 2023 campaign. He is supposedly healthy after a serious knee problem, but being healthy and being in football shape are very different things.
If Auiyuk had done things the right way this offseason, he might be on the Commanders right now. Instead, he took every wrong turn imaginable, and he's been forced to go with Rosenhaus — one of the most respected agents in the business — to get him on the right path to prosperity.
It's a sign of growth. It's a sign of some important self-reflection. It's also a sign of how desperate Aiyuk's situation is.
Peters knows him well. He was part of the San Francisco front office that drafted him in the first round, and he commended Aiyuk as a person at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine.
But the NFL is a business. And even with McLaurin out, this would be a powder keg waiting to go off at any moment.
The thought of Aiyuk and Diggs in the same locker room is bad enough. But even if nothing can be dismissed in the NFL, if Daniels is not on board, this is an absolute non-starter.
Which was almost always the case.
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