The Washington Commanders are expected to be fast movers when the legal tampering window opens before the official start of free agency. But a lingering rumor still swirls around one player who remains under contract elsewhere.
And according to one NFL insider, Brandon Aiyuk might have a better health prognosis than most fans anticipated.
Much has been said about Aiyuk's relationship with the San Francisco 49ers completely collapsing. The wide receiver broke off all contact with the club, leaving general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan infuriated. He has likely played his final down for the NFC West club, and his strong bond with quarterback Jayden Daniels makes the Commanders a logical landing spot.
Adam Peters is not going to leave anything to chance, but he recently praised Aiyuk as a person, which spoke volumes. Daniels also publicly vouched for the move, so this could potentially be a foregone conclusion once San Francisco cuts the cord.
Brandon Aiyuk's knee injury may not be a problem for the Commanders after all
Lake Lewis Jr. of ESPN Radio revealed on the Rio Robinson Show that Aiyuk's knee was good enough to play last season. He opted not to do so due to broken trust between the player and those in power. But the insider believes this would be the perfect running mate for Terry McLaurin once he hits the market.
"Brandon Aiyuk would be a perfect complement for Terry McLaurin right now. From what I was told, that knee is good. He’s healthy. He’s good, he’s fine. He just didn’t want to be out there. And I've heard a lot of guys don't want to be out there [in San Francisco]."
This is immensely encouraging, if accurate. It should also somewhat alleviate fans' concerns, though there are still enough red flags that warrant further investigation by Peters before he makes this move.
Obviously, why things soured so drastically between Aiyuk and the Niners needs a satisfactory explanation. The Commanders will also need to undergo strenuous medical testing to assess the knee and determine what further steps are needed. The 2020 first-round pick out of Arizona State has missed a lot of football, so the sooner he gets signed, the better his chances of gradual progression into Week 1 involvement will be.
There is a slim chance someone comes in with a trade offer for Aiyuk, but it seems unlikely. And if he gets the chance to choose his next destination, reuniting with Daniels is going to be extremely high on his list of options.
A lot can and probably will change. But if the Commanders are going to make a play for Aiyuk, this update is the most optimistic yet by a considerable margin.