Brandon Aiyuk is fighting a losing battle. And he's seemingly doing it alone.
The Washington Commanders have remained silent throughout the saga, refusing to confirm whether they will make a move for Aiyuk once he is eventually released by the San Francisco 49ers. Now, it appears as if quarterback Jayden Daniels is also giving him the cold shoulder.
Aiyuk's latest Instagram post suggested that Daniels is not taking his calls. The wide receiver practically begged his former college teammate at Arizona State to pick up the phone, as there is a lot of money at stake. His dream of joining the Commanders is fading rapidly, and he knows it.
Brandon Aiyuk launches desperate plea to save fading Commanders dream
This isn't the first time Aiyuk has mentioned Daniels in recent weeks. He threw shade at the signal-caller and his mother over Independence Day weekend, which was the final straw for some Washington fans. Others still believe this is a ploy to take the spotlight off, but that seems less likely now.
Brandon Aiyuk tells Jayden Daniels to hit him up because “money is on the line” pic.twitter.com/FmAWJs7P8F
— brandon (@JayDanielsMVP) July 8, 2026
Burning bridges has been a theme of Aiyuk's offseason.
He's not getting paid by San Francisco. The wideout freely admitted that he isn't using social media as a form of income, and that won't change when he lands somewhere else. Not exactly what potential suitors want to hear, and one has to wonder if general manager Adam Peters will want this baggage anymore.
Daniels is a private guy. He doesn't seem to particularly enjoy his media commitments before or during the season. He shuns the limelight, preferring to focus on football and nothing much else. Nobody should be shocked that he doesn't want to involve himself in Aiyuk's mess, even though it's irking the 2023 second-team All-Pro.
At some point, you just have to move on.
Commanders should think twice about signing Brandon Aiyuk
Most fans are almost there, and some arrived at this point long ago. Nobody really knows what the Commanders are thinking, but given how Peters and head coach Dan Quinn value high character in their acquisitions, adding Aiyuk and all his baggage seems unlikely.
Not out of the question, of course. Nothing should be completely ruled out in the NFL. But a move that most perceived as a done deal earlier this offseason is now anything but.
And there is nobody Aiyuk can blame but himself.
Daniels was probably his one last ally. Getting him involved was foolish, and putting his business out in the public eye reeked of a desperate man trying to cling to something that may or may not be there anymore. And these actions won't be going unnoticed in Washington.
What the future holds for Aiyuk is unclear. He hasn't applied for reinstatement. He cuts an isolated figure. His cabin-fever-like demeanor on social media only heightens concerns, and it would take a brave team to take a chance on him when the Niners eventually cut ties.
Aiyuk's plea to Daniels will no doubt fall on deaf ears. And this might also have a ripple effect that goes all the way into Washington's front office for good measure.
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