Everyone has an opinion about the current situation between wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and the San Francisco 49ers. The Washington Commanders are waiting patiently for their next move, with most still believing he'll reunite with quarterback Jayden Daniels at some stage.
That is not going to be for a while. The Niners are making it difficult, which is their right after how things have unfolded and the fact that he is still under contract. While the club isn't without blame, they feel stung enough by Aiyuk's actions not to roll over unless absolutely necessary.
Chris Simms of NBC Sports launched a scathing attack on Aiyuk at the annual league meetings. The quarterback turned analyst didn't think this was anywhere close to being resolved, even highlighting his belief that the wideout screwed San Francisco over on countless occasions in pursuit of getting released.
Chris Simms goes scorched earth on Brandon Aiyuk as Commanders wait patiently
Simms thought this distracting saga could carry on into training camp. And if a team becomes desperate enough, they would be willing to offer a third or fourth-round pick for Aiyuk if the Niners bide their time.
“He screwed them over multiple times. There’s really no other way to say it. He’s done that, and because of that, they’re certainly not going to be in any rush. This isn’t one of your stories. He’s been great to us. He’s been awesome. We’re going to try and work with him and make the player happy'.
"I could see this being one where they’re waiting into training camp and some team in the playoff conversation gets an injury, or they look at their roster and be like 'We don’t have a guy, hey 49ers, here’s a 3rd or a 4th rounder for Brandon Aiyuk'.”
That is an absolutely laughable notion. Aiyuk didn't play in 2025. His cap numbers over the next three years are massive, especially on the final two seasons of his deal. No team is going to take that on, so the chances of finding a trade partner are remote at this juncture.
Aiyuk reportedly wants to join Daniels in Washington. The Commanders and Niners are well aware of that, but as Simms rightfully pointed out, this is not a do-right-by-the-player scenario.
John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan have both outlined their disappointment and anger. The Niners are not just going to let him walk for the sake of it. They still believe some value can be extracted. Owner Jed York even hinted at the prospect of a repaired relationship, however unlikely that might be at this juncture.
As for the Commanders? They are not going to force the issue. Adam Peters is reportedly on board with the idea of signing Aiyuk, though reports also suggest that he will not be trading for the pass-catcher. But for now, everything is in flux, and Washington is turning its attention to finding dynamic weapons for Daniels via the 2026 NFL Draft.
Simms isn't alone in his opinion of Aiyuk. But if he and the Niners believe they are going to get this sort of capital in return, they are mistaken.