Brandon Aiyuk is stuck in limbo as the San Francisco 49ers hold firm on their stance. The Washington Commanders are reportedly willing to wait, unwilling to expedite his departure through a trade. But will there come a time when general manager Adam Peters is forced to turn his attention to other targets?
One Niners analyst believes so, highlighting the growing speculation around Stefon Diggs as someone who could eventually see the Commanders remove themselves from the Aiyuk soap opera.
Aiyuk wants to be in Washington. Jayden Daniels is also clamoring for the move, offering his input behind the scenes. Peters has weighed everything up and is supposedly interested. But Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic reaffirmed that the Commanders are not planning to trade for the player.
49ers analyst believes Commanders could pivot from Brandon Aiyuk as saga drags on
Savanah Tujague of 49ers Roundtable believes the Commanders may be forced to explore alternatives with no movement imminent on Aiyuk. That will ensure they don't miss out entirely. And whether it's Diggs or someone else, Washington cannot get caught short in its quest to add more firepower around Daniels.
"With the Aiyuk negotiations stuck in neutral, Washington may be forced to look elsewhere to bolster Daniels' arsenal. One name gaining traction in the DMV is Stefon Diggs. Now a free agent at 32, Diggs represents a high ceiling but short term solution that wouldn't require Washington to surrender any draft picks.
"As the calendar turns toward June, the 49ers and Commanders remain locked in a tactical stalemate. San Francisco is betting that someone will eventually get desperate enough to trade for Aiyuk’s rights and Washington is betting that if they wait long enough, they can get him for just a contract."
This would be the smart play, in all honesty.
Any veteran signing at this stage wouldn't prevent the Commanders from going back to Aiyuk when he is eventually released. What this does is provide Washington with an insurance policy that can enter the setup immediately.
Aiyuk's situation with the Niners could drag on for months. They are under no obligation to do him any favors, especially after how bitter this relationship has clearly gotten. And with the Arizona State product's roster bonus not due until just before Week 1, San Francisco could hold out right until the last minute.
Just what the point in that would be is anyone's guess, but it's the principle. The Commanders are caught in the middle despite saying almost nothing about Aiyuk over the offseason. But unless Peters has a change of heart, he must consider other possibilities on the market.
The Commanders are in no position to wait around for anyone. If Aiyuk comes into the organization at some stage, great. If this situation goes on all summer, other avenues must be pursued.
It's that simple, really.
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