When Could Brandon Aiyuk Be Released by 49ers? Latest Rumors on WR's Contract

Signs are pointing to the San Francisco 49ers releasing wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk at the end of the 2025 season, according to Dianna Russini and Michael Silver of The Athletic.

"Aiyuk, sources say, has failed to attend meetings and declined to participate in other team activities in recent months, and the 49ers have grown increasingly frustrated with the receiver's lack of communication," Russini and Silver reported Friday.

According to Russini and Silver, the 49ers voided "the guaranteed money in Aiyuk's contract for 2026, asserting that the absences amounted to a failure to fulfill his contractual obligations. Aiyuk, according to multiple league sources, told NFL Players Association representatives that he did not want to fight the move via an official grievance. That would clear the way for his expected release at season's end."

Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area confirmed that the 49ers voided Aiyuk's future guaranteed money over the summer:

During the 2024 offseason, Aiyuk and the 49ers engaged in a lengthy contract standoff that nearly ended with the Arizona State star being traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, Aiyuk ended up staying in town on a four-year, $120 million contract extension.

Aiyuk got off to a slow start in 2024, catching 25 passes for 374 yards and no touchdowns over six-plus games. Unfortunately, Aiyuk suffered a torn ACL, MCL and meniscus on Oct. 20 against the Kansas City Chiefs and has not played since.

The 49ers selected Aiyuk with the No. 25 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft. He notably posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2022 and 2023 capped by a 75-reception, 1,342-yard, seven-touchdown campaign in the latter year. That helped the 49ers win the NFC, and San Francisco nearly beat the Chiefs in the Super Bowl before falling in overtime.

Understandably, the 49ers wanted Aiyuk back after that effort and eventually got a deal done. Unfortunately, things haven't gone well since then, and now there's a real chance Aiyuk has played his last down in town.

Now there's a big question about money, and Aiyuk could be losing out on substantial earnings.

"In voiding Aiyuk's future guarantees, the 49ers can recover a significant portion of the contract," The Athletic reported. "His 2026 option bonus would have paid out $24.935 million. He stood to earn a $1.215 million base salary for the 2026 season, as well as a $100,000 workout bonus and roster bonuses of $750,000 per game."

This is another messy situation between the 49ers and Aiyuk following the contract negotiations during the summer of 2024. One can surmise that Aiyuk could be playing elsewhere in 2026 at this juncture barring a sudden change, and it could be as soon as March.