Brandon Aiyuk has a preferred destination, and it is the Washington Commanders. Multiple reports this week confirmed what has been the worst-kept secret of the offseason. Aiyuk wants to be traded to Washington to reunite with his college quarterback Jayden Daniels, and the San Francisco 49ers have publicly stated Aiyuk will not play another game in the Bay Area.
All that is left is for the 49ers and Commanders to agree on a price.
The reasoning is easy. Aiyuk and Daniels played together at Arizona State, and the two remained close as they turned pro. Daniels has been vocal about wanting more weapons around him in Washington, and Aiyuk is a proven top-15 receiver in the sport. It is a fit that makes football sense and personal sense.
The problem is trade compensation. The 49ers, who are still competitive but need cap flexibility, want a first-round pick and a Day 2 selection. The Commanders, who have been holding their draft capital tightly under general manager Adam Peters, would prefer to pay a first-round pick and a fourth. Somewhere in the middle is where a deal gets done.
For Washington, adding Aiyuk changes the ceiling of the entire offense. Terry McLaurin is a legitimate top-tier receiver. Adding Aiyuk gives Daniels two guys who can win their matchups on the outside, and it frees up the running game to attack lighter boxes. This becomes a real playoff offense overnight.
Head coach Dan Quinn wants this deal done. His comments this week about wanting to give Daniels more weapons were not subtle. The Commanders have the cap space, they have the picks, and they have the internal support to make this move happen.
San Francisco’s position is trickier. They know Aiyuk is not going to be happy if he stays. They know his contract situation is a mess. And they know that Kyle Shanahan’s offense functions just fine with other pieces. But they also know that trading Aiyuk within the NFC and watching him torch them twice a year in the playoffs would be a bad look.
That is why the Commanders may have to sweeten the deal beyond just pick value. A player-plus-picks package that includes a young defensive back the 49ers covet could push this over the top. Peters has that kind of currency to spend if he wants to be aggressive.
The clock is ticking. Week 1 is days away. Trade deadlines during the season come at the end of October, so there is time, but any deal that impacts Week 1 rosters needs to happen basically now.
If it happens, Washington vaults into the top tier of the NFC. If it does not, San Francisco has a very unhappy receiver to manage all season, and Jayden Daniels has to keep waiting for the WR2 he desperately wants.
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.
