Commanders must make another play for Brandon Aiyuk after trade request

There hasn't been a dull moment where Brandon Aiyuk is concerned this offseason. The wide receiver made no secret of his desire to get a new contract with one year remaining on his rookie deal. The San Francisco 49ers haven't been willing so far, which led to speculation about a potential trade away from the organization.

Aiyuk's been spending a lot of time with Jayden Daniels in recent weeks. The pair are close friends from their time together at Arizona State in college. Rumors surrounding a move to the Washington Commanders have been rampant, but nothing concrete emerged despite general manager Adam Peters calling his former employers with an inquiry.

All signs point to Aiyuk staying with the Niners. They are looking to capitalize on having a seventh-round rookie contract at quarterback in 2024 before Brock Purdy becomes extension-eligible. Parting ways with their most productive outside receiving threat isn't the best way to go one better for a Super Bowl.

However, it seems like the former first-round selection is trying to force the issue. Mike Garafolo from the NFL Network confirmed that Aiyuk had officially handed in a trade request. The insider stated that negotiations stopped in May and haven't resumed. He's now taken matters into his own hands.

Commanders should monitor Brandon Aiyuk's situation closely

This doesn't guarantee that Aiyuk will be moved. It raises urgency within San Francisco's front office to get an extension worked out despite the wide receiver market going through the roof. Teammate Deebo Samuel went down a similar route before getting a three-year, $71.55 million deal with a $24 million signing bonus and $58.1 million guaranteed.

The Niners are $38.91 million over the cap as it stands in 2025 with 55 players under contract. Giving Aiyuk $25 million or more per year on top of what they're already paying their top stars seems challenging. There are ways to manipulate the salary cap, but this situation is getting messier with every passing day.

Washington must make another play for Aiyuk. Peters would need to put together the right compensation package, but slotting the wideout opposite Terry McLaurin is exactly the one-two punch needed to help Daniels thrive in Year 1 of his professional career.

Peters will be watching developments closely. He knows those in San Francisco's front office better than anybody. Whether he calls them or they call him remains to be seen, but striking with conviction if John Lynch becomes more receptive to offers is crucial.

Lynch still has the leverage. Aiyuk has none. He's got one year left on his contract. The Niners could also place the franchise tag on the prolific pass-catcher next spring to prevent him from leaving in free agency. This won't go down well with the player, but that's the business.

The Niners have a history of getting extensions sorted out before camp. This could be a subtle reminder from Aiyuk's representatives after a stalemate so far. There's also the small matter of whether Peters would part ways with significant draft capital to get this deal done.

Washington has just six selections in the 2025 NFL Draft. Peters stated his desire to build through the draft and supplement any remaining needs in free agency. There's no harm in making another play, but the general manager also knows Aiyuk's worth to the Niners during a critical upcoming campaign.

The Commanders should shoot their shot. But a trade involving Aiyuk seems unlikely unless this fractured relationship goes past the point of no return.