Brandon Aiyuk's soap opera with the San Francisco 49ers has been long, tiresome, tedious, and everything in between.
Now, a new insider report suggests it will soon be over.
The Washington Commanders have been dragged into the saga through nothing more than speculation and rumors. General manager Adam Peters is reportedly interested, though he remained steadfast in his unwillingness to trade for the wide receiver. Nobody else has taken the plunge either, and it seems as if general manager John Lynch may finally be admitting defeat in his quest to get something back in return.
Commanders on alert as Brandon Aiyuk expected to be released before training camp
NFL insider Jason La Canfora, citing multiple sources around the league, reported that the Niners are expected to release Aiyuk at some stage before training camp. That is a lot quicker than some reports, and when this inevitably becomes reality, a prove-it deal is all the player can expect elsewhere.
"The San Francisco 49ers, after a protracted and personal battle with receiver Brandon Aiyuk, are finally prepared to move on from him, according to multiple league sources.
"It’s been widely known throughout the league for quite some time that Aiyuk had no future with the 49ers, and any attempts to land anything for him have been undermined by his off-field behavior. There are certainly concerns about his demeanor and health at this point, and Aiyuk’s next time will not be making any long-term commitment to him."
Aiyuk wants the Commanders and nobody else, based on a recent report from Nick Wagoner of ESPN. That's pretty common knowledge at this point, with the wideout eager to reunite with close friend Jayden Daniels. The quarterback has been putting in a good word behind the scenes, and Peters has warmed to the idea without committing too much to the possibility.
If the Commanders can get Aiyuk for an incentivized contract, it's a risk worth taking.
There is no telling how much impact he'll have on proceedings, though he recently posted a video on Instagram looking in shape and weighing 208 pounds. Being in football shape is something else entirely, but if Washington can get him in for training camp, that could help considerably.
It's another report. Until it becomes concrete, it's hard to know what the Niners are thinking behind the scenes.
Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan have made their point. They were never going to find a trade partner, and they probably knew that deep down. There was merely a reluctance to give Aiyuk what he wanted immediately, especially after the way he's acted in recent months.
The Commanders will wait, and they've done so throughout the process. But if La Canfora's sources are accurate, they might not be waiting much longer.
Then, the real fun begins.
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