The San Francisco 49ers are not going to gift-wrap wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk for the Washington Commanders. This strained relationship has gone way past that, and those in power with the NFC West club are going to hold out as long as possible before cutting ties.
General manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan are seeking a willing trade suitor for Aiyuk. That might seem a little far-fetched, given everything that's transpired and how much football he's missed, but one Niners' insider thought they would be willing to accept anything to remove him from the equation.
During an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports thought a seventh-round pick would suffice at this juncture. The insider didn't think any team would be willing to pay more than that. He also thought there was no chance Aiyuk would be in San Francisco by the time Week 1 rolls around.
Brandon Aiyuk price point probably won't change Commanders' approach
Whether this projected asking price is enough to change the Commanders' thought process is another matter.
"Anything. Maybe a seventh-round pick. Based on how last year went, I don't know if any team would be willing to pay more than that. And for the 49ers, I think they just want something in return. I just think at this point, anything they could get for him would be a plus.
"I don't see him being on the team. I don't think there's any chance of him being on the team. At some point, they'll be prepared to cut ties with him, and then he can go seek another team. Anything they get would be a bonus."
According to reports on Washington's side, general manager Adam Peters is not going to trade for Aiyuk, though he's warming to the idea of bringing him in as a free agent. Giving up draft capital when there are so many unknowns attached is a risk, even if it's only a seventh-rounder. There is also the small matter of the wideout's contract to factor into the equation.
Aiyuk may have had the guarantees on his contract voided, but the cap numbers are still high. It stands at $14.64 million next season. After that, it skyrockets to $41.44 million and $43.32 million in the final two years. This is a lot to take on, no matter how close the former Arizona State standout is to quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Perhaps another team will take the plunge, but it seems unlikely. Aiyuk's contract would need to be reworked. If the Commanders and Niners are aware of his desire to reunite with Daniels, others will be too. That would only increase the level of reluctance.
The Commanders won't sit still. But any fans expecting a quick resolution to this drawn-out saga will be out of luck.