Troubled wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has shot himself in the foot way too many times this offseason. As such, his dream switch to the Washington Commanders has now been thrown into severe doubt.
While it's still a possibility, it might not be a risk general manager Adam Peters is willing to take.
Aiyuk's social media tirade against the San Francisco 49ers was one thing. Turning his attention to throwing shade at quarterback Jayden Daniels was something else. That was the last straw for some of his supporters in Washington, and the signal-caller hinted that he would not approve a move to the Commanders when he was eventually released.
Brandon Aiyuk may have pushed the Commanders away for good
It could be mere ribbing on Instagram and nothing more. But the insider reports around Aiyuk and the Commanders have shifted from a foregone conclusion to an unlikely scenario.
Nothing has been confirmed for sure. Even so, it's not hard to see why Peters may be thinking twice about signing a player who could jeopardize everything he's trying to build.
On his best day, Aiyuk is a gifted playmaker. He's not played a competitive snap since midway through the 2024 season, so whether he can reach his second-team All-Pro heights again is debatable. He is also a powder keg waiting to go off at any moment, which is arguably even more concerning.
Peters knows him well. So do Daniels and assistant coach Wes Welker. The front-office leader is in a good position to get both sides of his saga with the Niners, but momentum is not exactly in Aiyuk's favor right now.
Every bad decision. Every social media post. Every refusal to do the right things to make sure he gets another opportunity. It all adds to the obvious concerns attached to signing him. Considering how highly the Commanders value leadership, high character, and a collective purpose, the Arizona State product hasn't displayed those traits for the best part of a year.
That's a problem.
Aiyuk's situation and next potential stop are moot points, in any case. He is still under contract with the Niners and is not planning to apply for reinstatement with the club. He could still go through the league, but it's another case of the pass-catcher overcomplicating things for himself.
If he does want to play again, which some have questioned, Aiyuk is going about it the wrong way.
Would the Commanders benefit from a healthy Aiyuk if he got with the program and embraced the culture? Undoubtedly.
But that is not guaranteed.
Unless Peters is entirely convinced and gets the green light from Daniels, this should be a non-starter until further notice.
Aiyuk can play; that's not up for discussion. But it takes much more than that to carry favor after his relationship with the Niners descended into chaos.
And it's now become a gamble Peters may not be able to afford.
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