NFL Insider Links Brandon Aiyuk to Jayden Daniels' Commanders, What Is WR's Market?

As Brandon Aiyuk and the San Francisco 49ers appear headed for a divorce this offseason, one potential landing spot for the veteran wide receiver could be a reunion with his former college teammate Jayden Daniels.

Per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Washington Commanders are considered a possible option for Aiyuk given his connection to Daniels and the link between their front office to San Francisco's.

Even though Aiyuk hasn't played since Oct. 2024 due to a knee injury, Fowler noted he would "most likely" be in the same tier of free agents with Romeo Doubs and Alec Pierce if the 49ers were to release him.

The Athletic's Dianna Russini and Michael Silver reported on Nov. 21 that Aiyuk has "likely" played his final game for the 49ers because the team has has "grown increasingly frustrated with the receiver's lack of communication" as he has "failed to attend meetings and declined to participate in other team activities" recently.

Russini and Silver added the 49ers voided the guaranteed money in Aiyuk's contract for next season, which includes a $24.935 million option bonus. The report notes Aiyuk told the NFL Players Association he did want not to file a grievance, potentially clearing the way for him to be released in the offseason.

If we use Pierce and Doubs as a potential comparison for Aiyuk in free agency, Fowler reported last month that some teams think a deal worth at least $20 million per season "isn't out of the question" for Pierce.

Doubs didn't have a number attached to him in Fowler's report, but it was written that he "has played his way out of a bargain deal" by being the No. 1 option for the Green Bay Packers this season.

Figuring out Aiyuk's value going forward is difficult because, assuming he doesn't play this season, the next time he plays in an actual NFL game will be 23 months after his knee injury.

Aiyuk also was having an inconsistent 2024 season prior to the injury. He finished with 374 yards and no touchdowns in seven games. His four drops were two more than he had in 17 games during the 2023 campaign.

Some of those struggles can be attributed to a prolonged contract holdout that kept him out of training camp and preseason. Aiyuk eventually signed a four-year, $120 million extension with San Francisco two weeks before the start of the regular season.

The Commanders have already tried to boost their receiving corps by bringing in a San Francisco playmaker by acquiring Deebo Samuel in the offseason. He has struggled so far in Washington with 534 receiving yards in 11 games, though he leads the team with six total touchdowns.

Adam Peters spent seven seasons with the 49ers as vice president of player personnel (2017 to '20) and assistant general manager (2021 to '23) before being hired as Washington's general manager in January 2024.

Aiyuk is two years younger than Samuel and a more well-rounded receiver, so there are reasons to believe he could get back to being the dynamic pass-catcher who had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2023 and 2024.

Daniels and Aiyuk played together at Arizona State in 2019. Aiyuk caught 65 passes for 1,192 yards and eight touchdowns in his final college season before being selected No. 25 overall by the 49ers in the 2020 NFL draft.