Clear-Cut Favorite Emerges To Sign Star WR Brandon Aiyuk If San Francisco 49ers Release Him

This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

A year after agreeing to a lucrative four-year contract extension worth $120 million, it appears Brandon Aiyuk might be headed elsewhere.

Last month, it was revealed that he and the 49ers were headed towards a split.

According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini and Michael Silver, it “appears that Aiyuk and the 49ers are headed for a stunning divorce.”

He even pointed towards it after social media users noticed he removed 49ers references from his social media accounts.

Now, a rather surprising NFC team is emerging for his services.

NFL Insider Links Brandon Aiyuk To The Washington Commanders

As Brandon Aiyuk and the San Francisco 49ers appear headed for a divorce this offseason, one potential landing spot has emerged.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler is pointing to the Washington Commanders as a possible option for Aiyuk.

This would be a perfect pairing given his connection to Jayden Daniels.

Scary: The Commanders are a team to watch to sign 49ers star WR Brandon Aiyuk if he were to be released, per @JFowlerESPN

“He is close with quarterback Jayden Daniels, his former teammate at Arizona State. And general manager Adam Peters — a John Lynch disciple from his time in… pic.twitter.com/rEEiuzOaoh

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 2, 2025

Aiyuk hasn’t played since Oct. 2024 due to a knee injury, but Fowler still noted he would “most likely” be in the same tier of other free agents should the 49ers choose to part ways with him.

The Washington Commanders made the NFC Championship Game last season and were viewed as legitimate contenders heading into the 2025 campaign. That hasn’t worked out too well due to a multitude of injuries.

Jayden Daniels, for example, has played in just six games and has not made an appearance since Nov. 2 due to a dislocated elbow.

Terry McLaurin has only taken the field five times.

Brandon Aiyuk was having an inconsistent 2024 season prior to his injury. He finished with 374 yards and no touchdowns in seven games.

Aiyuk is only 27 and still has more left in the tank. Not to mention, the pairing with the 49ers would reunite him with Deebo Samuel.