3 bombshell trade packages for the Commanders to land Brandon Aiyuk

Commanders trade offer No. 2

Just how interested the Washington Commanders truly are in Brandon Aiyuk is anyone's guess. Adam Schefter reported that the franchise had called about a potential trade earlier this offseason but nothing concrete emerged. They could have been put off by the asking price. They might have been knocked back entirely. There's just no telling for sure.

This latest development might see new general manager Adam Peters look to begin negotiations once again. Aiyuk doesn't have much leverage considering he's under contract and might not get the extension he's looking for until 2025 at the earliest. There's also the small matter of quarterback Brock Purdy becoming extension-eligible after the 2024 season to factor into the equation.

It's a precarious predicament that San Francisco's general manager John Lynch must manage carefully. He doesn't want to part ways with his best perimeter-receiving threat heading into a crucial campaign for the franchise. But planning for the future should also feature heavily in his thought process.

There is one way for the Commanders to make Lynch think twice. That's by ponying up their first-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft for Aiyuk.

That would be a stunning turn of events all things considered.

Peters has stated his intent to build through the draft and supplement any remaining needs from the veteran pool. Giving up his first-rounder - which could be a top-10 pick depending on how things go during the first campaign under new head coach Dan Quinn - would be a contentious issue among the fanbase. However, elite-level players with proven production like Aiyuk don't become available too often in their prime.

Considering the need to also pay Aiyuk north of $25 million per season, the Commanders would need something back along with the wideout. It doesn't seem likely that Peters would give up his premium pick next spring at this stage of Washington's rebuilding project, but stranger things have happened throughout NFL history that's for sure.