With each passing day, the San Francisco 49ers must worry more about the feasibility of retaining their superstar receiver.
Despite attending camp and even traveling to the 49ers’ final preseason game in Las Vegas, Brandon Aiyuk has not participated in practices or drills. With less than two weeks to go until the start of the season, San Francisco is racing against the clock.
Will they be able to work out an extension that would allow Aiyuk to stay in San Francisco beyond this season, the final one of his rookie contract? That question becomes more important with each passing day, because the 49ers know their title window is open this season, but not forever.
As the stalemate continues, it appears a new wave of Aiyuk buzz is building among the Washington Commanders. NFL Network insider Peter Schrager taken to X Sunday to explain why he thinks the Commanders should be in the running for the 49ers superstar.
“Washington GM Adam Peters just spent 7 years in SF with John Lynch and was instrumental in SF’s 2020 draft… Jayden Daniels’ guy at ASU in ’19? Brandon Ayiuk. 1,192 yards,” Schrager said. “As much as PITT has been buzzing, shouldn’t Wash/SF be talking?”
Aiyuk, 26, has been embroiled in a contract impasse with the 49ers practically since the confetti fell at the end of the Super Bowl. Combine the Dotson trade with Schrager deciding to tie the star to D.C., and it’s interesting to wonder if the Commanders are considering an offer.
In response to Schrager’s apparent speculation, NBC Sports Bay Area 49ers insider Matt Maiocco clarified the return He believes that Washington should seal the deal for Aiyuk.
“If Washington is back in the game, it would take a 2nd, a 3rd and maybe something else AND a contract that Aiyuk would be willing to accept to finalize a deal,” Maiocco said.
While it’s not entirely accurate to boil the deals down to something that simple, given that the Commanders got a third in return for Dotson, they would have essentially traded Dotson and a second-round pick for Aiyuk, according to Maiocco.
Sounds… pretty affordable for an All-Pro at a key offensive position? Especially considering Aiyuk already has a relationship with the rookie quarterback Washington hopes will be the future of its franchise?
There are still some obvious hurdles to clear before a deal is done, but the Commanders should be increasingly interested in Aiyuk with each passing day. They can afford to wait on the 49ers, given that their championship window has yet to open.
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