The Washington Commanders are set to implement massive changes this offseason. And there is growing buzz around the prospect of wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk coming on board to reunite with ex-college teammate and close friend Jayden Daniels.
Aiyuk's relationship with the San Francisco 49ers has soured. The franchise voided any guaranteed money on his deal in 2026, and the pass-catcher didn't file a grievance. That suggests a , which could put the Commanders at the top of his preferred destinations given his relationship with Daniels.
Daniels and Aiyuk thrived together at Arizona State. Adam Peters also knows the wideout well from their time together in San Francisco, so he'll have a good sense of what he could potentially bring. It's an intriguing option, but one team insider believes Washington should stay well clear of the 2020 first-round pick.
Commanders insider believes Adam Peters should stay clear of Brandon Aiyuk
Ben Standig, who now covers the team independently, noted several red flags that should give the Commanders enough cause to pause. He also highlighted the time he's missed due to injury as another significant reason Washington should look elsewhere.
"If they are serious about culture, this has got to be a hard pass. He clearly has got a tight relationship with [Jayden] Daniels. The 49ers — it's not just a salary-cap cut — they voided the guarantees on his deal to end this thing. And it's got to be because of some kind of behavioral issues, missing practices, or whatever. That's a massive red flag. If I had to guess, Aiyuk probably enters the market looking for a one-year deal. But as a rehab situation, he will not have played this year. And the injury itself wasn't just an ACL tear; it was more significant than that."Ben Standig via The Team 980
Winning breeds culture. Not a few catchy slogans or anything else. The Commanders proved that last season, so if Peters believes Aiyuk can help the squad, he won't hesitate to pull the trigger.
“Culture” is a buzzword that personnel types use to hide terrible draft picks and FA signings. Winning brings good culture, not the other way around.
— Mark (@marktfulton) November 25, 2025
If you think Aiyuk is healthy and makes your roster better, you bring him in. If he’s not, you don’t.
Miss me with “culture” https://t.co/lv1OO65BOc
Experts and fans were saying the same thing about Deebo Samuel Sr. after his trade to the Commanders this offseason. Accusations of conditioning issues and being a locker-room distraction were rife in the media. Still, he's relished a new environment en route to a profitable campaign that could lead to an extension when it's all said and done.
Aiyuk wouldn't get anything more than a one-year agreement. Teams will want to see if he can still produce after missing so much time. But if Daniels vouches for him, and Peters is satisfied by his medical assessments and overall recovery, the stars could align for a switch to Washington.
And let's face it, the Commanders need all the help they can get right now.