Veteran wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is patiently waiting for the San Francisco 49ers to release him. Most expect the Washington Commanders to be his next destination, which would reunite the gifted but injury-stricken pass-catcher with college teammates and good friend, quarterback Jayden Daniels.
The Niners don't appear to be in any great rush to remove Aiyuk from the equation. They are reportedly holding out hope that the franchise may receive trade offers, however unlikely that might be. Still, it's clear that the NFC West club is preparing for life after the wideout.
According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Niners have agreed to a deal with free-agent receiver Christian Kirk. It's a one-year contract that could be worth up to $6 million with incentives. This gives them an insurance policy if Jauan Jennings signs elsewhere and Aiyuk departs as expected.
Commanders are still waiting, but the Niners are setting the table for Brandon Aiyuk's exit
One signing may not change the fact that San Francisco will drag this out, being as petty as they want after things completely broke down between the player and the franchise. At the same time, Kirk's arrival may speed up the process, especially if no willing trade suitor comes forward.
The Commanders will be keeping a close eye on developments. They are reportedly aware of Aiyuk's desire to pair with Daniels. He is working out and wants to play. San Francisco voided the guaranteed money on his contract when things turned sour. That may have been the endgame for them, but there is just no telling for sure.
Aiyuk has not broken his silence so far, and he would be wise to keep it that way. He's not going to force the issue, not when the Arizona State product is close to getting what he's always wanted. It's a risk from the Commanders' perspective, but the rewards could be astronomic if everything clicks into place.
The receiver's on-field chemistry with Daniels is already established. It would probably be nothing more than a one-year, prove-it deal, which would keep the urgency high. With a better run of luck on the injury front and keeping football the main thing above all else, Aiyuk stands a tremendous chance of silencing his ever-increasing doubters.
Kirk's arrival won't immediately result in the Niners finally pulling the plug on Aiyuk. Even so, it seems that general manager John Lynch is getting a lot closer to making this happen after also signing Mike Evans in free agency.
When the call finally comes, there will be nobody happier than Aiyuk and Daniels. The Niners have every right to make things difficult, but that won't change the end result.
And the clock is slowly ticking.