It was no surprise whatsoever to see the Washington Commanders come to the forefront of speculation around wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk's next destination once he is inevitably released by the San Francisco 49ers. His close relationship with quarterback Jayden Daniels dictated as much, but that doesn't mean it's a foregone conclusion by any stretch of the imagination.
There are concerns; plenty of them. The Niners have been completely bamboozled and infuriated by Aiyuk's behavior this season. He didn't play for the entire 2025 campaign and is coming off a pretty serious knee injury that makes it difficult to predict how much the wideout will be able to contribute.
That wasn't the only thing bothering one team analyst, who thought there was another possible red flag that hadn't sat well before this potential acquisition at some point during the offseason.
Commanders cannot sign Brandon Aiyuk just because of the buddy system
Danny Rouhier from 106.7 The Fan acknowledged that Daniels and Peters will have more information than most about what really went down between Aiyuk and the Niners. Still, the analyst wants this signing to have more substance than getting the signal-caller's good buddy on board for a payday.
"Obviously, Jayden Daniels has more insight than most. They're really good buddies from their time at Arizona State. [Adam] Peters was there as part of the drafting, so I don't mind data points coming in. But I can't have it be, "Oh, you guys are buds? Here's $20 million because you guys text sometimes and FaceTime.""Danny Rouhier
If the Commanders get Brandon Aiyuk, it should take more than Jayden Daniels just wanting him. There needs to be a process that they follow. pic.twitter.com/7PRE1LmqKt
— 106.7 The Fan (@1067theFan) February 9, 2026
This is fair. Daniels is being more vocal about the offense he wants David Blough to install. This increasing influence is unlikely to stop there, and his not-so-subtle hint that he wants Aiyuk with him on the Commanders during his rounds on Media Row during Super Bowl week represented the loudest message imaginable.
That shouldn't be enough.
Peters is smart enough to speak with the player. He's got a strong connection with Lynch and Shanahan in San Francisco, so calls will likely be made. And then, there are some strenuous medical examinations to get through before confidence in Aiyuk's outlook increases.
Being a close friend of Daniels during their time at Arizona State doesn't guarantee anything. The Commanders are under added pressure to turn the tide after a five-win campaign in 2025. They need to identify the right upgrades almost everywhere while also removing sentiment from their decision-making. If there is even the slightest doubt, or the 2020 first-round pick wants too much money, Peters should explore other options.
The consensus seems to suggest Aiyuk will reunite with Daniels in Washington. But that cannot happen without the proper investigations into why it all went wrong in his current place of employment.