The Washington Commanders should be busy making plans for a critical offseason. Adam Peters needs another roster overhaul with the future in mind. Nothing else will do after a campaign that started with lofty ambitions descended into complete chaos.
And there is one potential incoming that is becoming increasingly likely.
It didn't take long for the Commanders to come up in speculation around wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk's future. His relationship with the San Francisco 49ers has soured, and he has not played this season due to injury. The player has reportedly checked out, leaving the Niners with no option but to void the guarantees on his deal.
Brandon Aiyuk remains strongly linked to Commanders move as 49ers future sours
Now, those in power have gone one step further. The Niners placed Aiyuk on the reserve/left squad list. Michael Baca from NFL.com thought this was the beginning of the end for the player in San Francisco, which seems almost inevitable at this juncture.
"It's been a contentious relationship ever since [Brandon] Aiyuk broke out, with a holdout and trade request leading up to his '24 extension and the club being open to trading the wideout this past March despite the long-term deal. Barring a reconciliation between the 27-year-old and the 49ers this offseason, Aiyuk's placement on the reserve/left squad list is nearing the final chapter of a dramatic five-year run in San Francisco."Michael Baca
Aiyuk is taking a calculated gamble. He's not going to get much money on his next contract, at least not initially. This mission is to get an opportunity to play where he wants, and linking up with his old college quarterback, Jayden Daniels, in Washington could be high on his list of preferred destinations.
Daniels and Aiyuk remain extremely close. The wideout knows Peters well from their time together in San Francisco. He's missed a lot of football, but the Commanders have people in the building who'll vouch for him.
This is an intriguing possibility. It's a no-brainer if Aiyuk returned to his 2023 form, where he secured 75 receptions for 1,342 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. That's not the case, so Peters will have to think long and hard about whether this represents a risk worth taking.
There will be nobody happier than Daniels if the Commanders take the plunge. And at 27 years old, this might be a long-term investment if Aiyuk stays healthy and comes back to life with someone he trusts completely under center.
Aiyuk's time with the Niners is done. Whether he ends up in Washington or not remains to be seen.