The Brandon Aiyuk trade saga is entering its final act, and the destination is starting to become obvious.
The San Francisco 49ers have all but confirmed that Aiyuk will not play another game in a red and gold uniform. Head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters this offseason that we all know where things are. That was as close to a public trade announcement as an NFL coach can give without actually announcing a trade.
Aiyuk, for his part, has made it very clear where he wants to go. Washington.
The connection is straightforward. Aiyuk and Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels were teammates at Arizona State back in 2019. They have a personal relationship. Aiyuk has told multiple people around the league that lining up with Daniels is the situation he wants most. And Washington has both the cap space and the roster need to make it work.
Commanders GM Adam Peters has been active this offseason, but the receiver room is still the biggest question mark on the roster. Terry McLaurin remains the WR1, but he is 30 years old and coming off a season where he battled a shoulder injury. Deebo Samuel Jr. is a nice piece but not a true No. 2. And behind them, the Commanders are relying on unproven young talent.
Aiyuk would fix all of that in one move.
Aiyuk turned 28 in March. He is coming off a 76-catch, 927-yard season that was disrupted by a groin injury but showed he can still be a WR1 in a functional offense. He signed a four-year, $120 million extension in 2024 that has three years and $86 million remaining. That is a very tradeable contract for a team with cap space.
The question is what the 49ers actually want. San Francisco has been asking for a first-round pick and a mid-round pick. Washington reportedly does not want to give up its 2027 first-rounder. That is the current sticking point.
My guess: this gets done before training camp opens on July 29. The 49ers do not want a disgruntled Aiyuk showing up to camp, being a distraction, and forcing an ugly holdout. Washington wants Aiyuk on the field for the entire preseason so he can build chemistry with Daniels. There is a deal to be made, and both sides know it.
The likely package: Washington’s 2027 second-round pick plus a 2028 conditional third-rounder. San Francisco gets picks. Washington gets a legitimate WR1 for Daniels. Aiyuk gets his preferred destination. Everybody wins.
For Kliff Kingsbury and the Commanders offense, adding Aiyuk turns Washington into a legitimate playoff contender. Daniels, McLaurin, Aiyuk, Samuel, and a top-10 pick tight end room? That is one of the best receiver groups in the NFC. Combined with a top-10 offensive line and Brian Robinson Jr. in the backfield, the Commanders would suddenly be a chic pick to compete for the NFC East title.
Watch this space. The Aiyuk trade is coming. And when it does, Washington is going to look like a very different football team.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
