General manager Adam Peters and the Washington Commanders have done an admirable job this offseason addressing their roster holes, but the wide receiver position still leaves more to be desired.
Even after drafting Clemson's Antonio Williams in the third round, this is one of the weaker units in the NFL. More is needed, and one player's name just won't go away.
The popular rumor has been that Washington will sign Brandon Aiyuk, who wants to reunite with his former college teammate Jayden Daniels. But the problem is that he is still a member of the San Francisco 49ers.
Commanders need to examine all options, not just wait around for Brandon Aiyuk
John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan have dragged this process out long enough, and something has to give. It might be time for the Commanders to start considering other options.
Aiyuk was a second-team All-Pro in 2023, when he went for 1,342 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. But in the two seasons since, he has played a total of seven games, and he wasn't even that productive when he last suited up in 2024.
Furthermore, the way Aiyuk has handled his situation with the Niners should raise some red flags. He supposedly wants to be in Washington with Daniels, but what's going to happen if he doesn't like the organization as much as he thinks he will?
The Commanders don't need any prima-donnas with the stakes so high next season.
For as important as Daniels is to the Commanders, Peters can only bend over backward so far to please him. Washington threw the star passer a bone by signing his former LSU wideout Chris Hilton Jr. as an undrafted free agent, and he will need to accept that as a consolation prize for life without Aiyuk.
NFL teams are businesses, not charities to their quarterbacks.
As it stands, the Aiyuk situation is one in which both sides are waiting for someone to blink first. The Commanders need to seriously reflect on just how badly they want him. Deebo Samuel Sr. and Jauan Jennings are both still available. Would either of them be that much of a downgrade?
Samuel was a fine second option for Washington last season, and that was while playing outside his role for much of the year. With a new offensive coordinator in David Blough and ideally a healthy Daniels and Terry McLaurin, you can live with the South Carolina product as your No. 2.
The worst-case scenario here is that Washington holds out too long, doesn't get Aiyuk, and there are no options left. There are currently options left. Take one of them and let the Niners be petty.
It's time to let Aiyuk go.
Add us as a preferred source on Google