Brandon Aiyuk says he will sign with Commanders if cut
By FF Beacon
This story was written by FF Beacon's automated news desk. Michael built the desk and oversees it.
Updated
Brandon Aiyuk, WR for the San Francisco 49ers, went on Instagram Wednesday and said he will sign with the Washington Commanders the moment the 49ers cut him.
He posted two Stories to make the point. In the first, he held a football with a Commanders logo while a graphic called Washington the best team in the world. In the second, he looked into the camera and said: "And if I'm crazy or if I'm cappin', tell them boys cut me today." He followed that by saying if San Francisco releases him, he will sign with Washington "tomorrow."
This is not new territory for Aiyuk. Earlier this week he posted a video yelling "Go Commanders! Raise Hail! Take Command!" alongside a photo of Mark Rypien holding the Lombardi Trophy after Super Bowl XXVI.
Where things stand with the 49ers
The backstory is messy. San Francisco signed Aiyuk to a four-year, $120 million extension in August 2024. He tore his ACL and MCL seven games into that season. The 49ers then voided $27 million in guarantees he was set to receive in 2026 after he stopped showing up for mandatory rehab sessions. He missed all of 2025 and sits on the Reserve/Left Squad list, meaning he is still team property despite the public fight.
49ers GM John Lynch said in January that Aiyuk has "played his last snap" with the franchise. San Francisco has not released him. They are holding out for trade compensation. Dallas reportedly floated a 7th-round pick, but Aiyuk could refuse to report to block any trade he does not want. He wants Washington and has made clear he will sacrifice money to get there.
What the Commanders actually want
No trade framework between San Francisco and Washington has been reported. The Commanders have no reason to trade for a player they might be able to sign for nothing. Team sources indicate Washington would offer at most a one-year prove-it contract even if Aiyuk becomes a free agent. The draw for Aiyuk is Jayden Daniels, QB, his former Arizona State teammate in 2019 and one of only five accounts Aiyuk follows on Instagram.
Fantasy outlook for Brandon Aiyuk
Aiyuk was a legitimate WR1 in 2023, posting 1,342 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns on his way to a second-team All-Pro selection. He is 28 years old and has not played since tearing his ACL, MCL, and meniscus. The knee health question is real.
If San Francisco cuts or trades him late in camp, he arrives with limited practice reps on a recovering knee. A one-year Washington contract caps his salary floor but also caps his fantasy ceiling early in the season. If the knee holds and he is playing alongside Daniels, the upside is real.
He is still a 49er on paper. Do not roster him in redraft leagues yet. The most likely path to clarity is San Francisco cutting him rather than absorbing a messy camp situation, but the front office has shown patience while searching for a return. Put him on your watchlist and check back as training camp opens.