The Brandon Aiyuk saga has gone on for far too long. A contract dispute that eventually landed in his favor hasn't gone swimmingly for the San Francisco 49ers. Tearing his ACL and MCL just seven games into that deal, he hasn't been around the franchise since.
Last year, they placed him on the PUP list. From there, they voided his guaranteed money for 2026 and added him to the reserve/left squad list. Since then, it's been all downhill for the former first-round pick who remains employed with the team.
While he remained quiet for most of his time away from the 49ers, that trend has changed in recent months. Making multiple videos on social media, Aiyuk has gone on lengthy tirades against the organization.
Calling out everyone, from the coaching staff to the general manager, the former All-Pro selection has left no stone unturned. But while he has made his desire to play for the Washington Commanders abundantly clear, it hasn't led to major changes.
Mike Florio of NBC Sports, though, believes the way forward for Aiyuk is relatively simple. On the latest "Pro Football Talk" alongside co-host Chris Simms, he expressed his frustration over the choices the former Pro Bowler was making.

#aiyuk #brandon #francisco

The 49ers will have their first training camp practice today. There aren't any pads, so don't expect much news. But we are officially back.
If you haven't seen this feed post from Fooch, he asked how many games Mike Evans would appear in this season. What say you?
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Onto today's links…
Agent's Take: Brandon Aiyuk has only himself to blame for 49ers limbo chaos

#take #aiyuk #training

Will the Washington Commanders sign a wide receiver before they open training camp next week? While it appears increasingly unlikely that Washington will sign a receiver in the coming days, the possibility remains open that it could sign one before Week 1.
Brandon Aiyuk seemed the most obvious name for months. That appears off the table now for multiple reasons. Stefon Diggs remains available, but may not be for long. Someone the Commanders know well, Deebo Samuel, also remains available.
The most accomplished wide receiver still available is Tyreek Hill. The 32-year-old Hill has been a popular name to link to Washington on a short-term deal. However, it's uncertain if the Commanders have shown any interest in Hill. If they haven't, it may be due to his injury. Hill recently revealed a troubling update on his left knee.
"So it's about 10 months after doing two surgeries," Hill said on social media, via John Breech of CBS Sports. "My left leg is the one that I injured. I have no power in my left leg at all, so I'm trying to regain all the power back in my left leg, but it's one day at a time."
Here's Hill in his own words:

#Commanders #sign #available

A month after Brandon Aiyuk openly campaigned to join the Washington Commanders, the San Francisco 49ers wide receiver returned to social media to reveal he'd purchased a home near the Commanders' team facility.
Aiyuk, 28, posted on his Instagram story a picture of himself that included a caption with a misspelling of the location of his property: "Brandon Aiyuk acquires $10M Loudon County (VA) Estate." The Commanders' facility is in Ashburn, Va., which is in Loudoun County.
Last month, Aiyuk made it clear he wanted to join the Commanders, whose quarterback, Jayden Daniels, was Aiyuk's teammate at Arizona State. Said Aiyuk: "If I'm crazy or if I'm cappin', tell them boys (49ers) cut me today and I'll sign with the Commanders tomorrow."
The next day, Aiyuk posted a video in which he was wearing a Commanders hat: "I'm back in action and back on tour this fall. Go to www.commanders.com to get your tickets and watch us rock out," he said in a video.
However, Aiyuk is under contract with the 49ers and remains on the reserve/left squad list, where he was placed in December. He has three years left on his deal and he doesn't take up a roster spot, or count against the salary cap, while he is on the list. Aiyuk could try to force the 49ers to release him by filing for reinstatement and reporting to training camp, which begins Saturday when veterans report.

#aiyuk #county #facility #posted

It's pretty well documented that the San Francisco 49ers' recent first-round draft history isn't good. But a recent ranking by CBS Sports showcased just how awful the picks under John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan have been since 2000.
Mike Renner ranked all 191 first-round picks over the past six years, factoring in draft capital and the players available rather than pure talent evaluation. San Francisco's five picks over that span landed at No. 43 (Brandon Aiyuk, 2020), No. 95 (Ricky Pearsall, 2024), No. 133 (Javon Kinlaw, 2020), No. 135 (Mykel Williams, 2025) and dead last at No. 191 (Trey Lance, 2021). That works out to one top-third pick, one middle-third pick and three in the bottom third — including the single worst decision of the entire six-year sample.
Renner didn't hold back on the Lance pick, which cost the 49ers a 2021 first-rounder, 2022 first- and third-round picks and a 2023 first-rounder to move up for:
There's no telling what a team that went to the NFC Championship Game in 2022 and the Super Bowl in 2023 could have done if it had used its 2021 first-round pick, 2022 first- and third-round picks and 2023 first-round pick differently.
What's worse is the 49ers' "best" first-round pick is Aiyuk, who could be done in the NFL after his recent offseason social media firestorm. Pearsall has been injury-prone over his two seasons, Williams is coming off an ACL injury and Kinlaw hasn't been on the team since 2024

#pick

The Washington Commanders' interest in Brandon Aiyuk appears to be fading, according to multiple NFL insiders, as the disgruntled 49ers wide receiver's social media activity continues to work against him.
ESPN's Adam Schefter addressed the situation on his podcast, indicating Washington is unlikely to pursue Aiyuk even as it looks to add a veteran receiver.
"I honestly believe that he has scared off teams like Washington," Schefter said. "I think they're looking at the social media posts and saying, 'Is this the kind of guy that we want to bring in right now and be a part of our franchise?'"
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler had a similar **** sment earlier this week on SportsCenter, pointing to Aiyuk's online behavior as a deterrent for teams around the league — Washington included.
"There are several veterans they could look at," Fowler said. "I don't think it's going to be Brandon Aiyuk at this stage."

Stefon Diggs, Brandon Aiyuk over and over....
That's what we have heard, read, and watched since the draft regarding the Washington Commanders. The consensus was that the Commanders would sign one of these two receivers. Well, there is still another receiver out there who remains unsigned and available. That receiver is Kennan Allen.
Allen turned 34 in April, and perhaps that might be the chief reason Allen remains unsigned. Allen has remained one of the more respected receivers in the NFL for some time regarding his value to the locker room. It would be interesting to learn if 'diva' and Keenan Allen have ever been used in the same sentence.
Listed at 6'2", 211 pounds, Allen has been able to adeptly use his size over his 171 NFL regular season games. Allen appears to have lost a step, as his yards per reception were down to 9.6 in 2025. Yes, that is one side of the coin why Allen may not be signed (age 34, only 9.6 YPR). Yet the other side of that same coin is that Allen remained durable, playing in all 17 games in 2025 and hauling in 81 receptions last season.
But then, given who the Commanders already have, they may not be interested in Allen. If they want a receiver with size, they already have Treylon Burks. In fact, Burks is also 6'2" and is bigger than Allen at 225 pounds. Secondly, Burks is younger, much younger, having turned 26 back in April. No, Burks is not going to accomplish what Allen has (1,055 receptions for 12,051 yards, 70 touchdown receptions).

The NFC West has some of the best wide receivers across any division in the NFL. The Seattle Seahawks have the reigning Offensive Player of the Year in Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Heading into the 2026 NFL season, we've ranked all four wide receiving corps in the division from best to worst.
We're making the difficult decision of ranking the Los Angeles Rams as having the best receiving corps in the NFC West. Puka Nacua finished second in receiving yards (1,715) behind Smith-Njigba. Opposite Nacua, Davante Adams led all wideouts in receiving touchdowns with 14. That's pretty incredible.
Smith-Njigba will be the focal point of Brian Fleury's 2026 offense for the Seahawks. Aging veteran Cooper Kupp is still impactful, and Rashid Shaheed is expected to be heavily involved after signing a new contract with the Seahawks earlier this offseason. A healthy Tory Horton could also play a role.
The San Francisco 49ers revamped their receiving corps by signing Mike Evans and Christian Kirk in free agency. They also drafted De'Zhaun Stribling at No. 33 overall. They've revamped the room nicely after the fallout with Brandon Aiyuk.
Marvin Harrison Jr. was limited by injury in 2025 and hasn't yet met the borderline unfair expectations he was tagged with coming out of Ohio State. Michael Wilson became a 1,000-yard receiver this past season. The Cardinals also added savvy veteran Kendrick Bourne via free agency.

With each passing day, it looks increasingly unlikely that San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk will end up with the Washington Commanders. Well, at least in 2026, anyway. Washington has long been Aiyuk's preferred destination once his release from San Francisco became official. However, Aiyuk has yet to apply for reinstatement and has declared he will not report to the team for training camp. That means the 49ers are under no obligation to release him.
With or without Aiyuk, the Commanders could use another veteran starting receiver opposite Terry McLaurin. Deebo Samuel remains available. As does Tyreek Hill. But that name most **** ociated with the Commanders is four-time Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs. Diggs, a DMV native, hasn't hidden his desire to return to the region and play for his hometown team.
Earlier this offseason, Diggs posted a message to all NFL teams on his Instagram account, prompting Commanders edge rusher Charles Omenihu to comment, "Burgundy & gold."
Omenihu isn't the only Commanders defender trying to recruit Diggs to Washington. When Diggs posted a workout video on his Instagram recently, another Washington newcomer, linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson, posted a similar comment. Diggs responded.
It's worth noting that Diggs and Chaisson were teammates with the AFC champion New England Patriots last season.

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels is all about business. While his good friend, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, continues to alienate the rest of the NFL with his social media antics, Daniels gathered several of his teammates in Los Angeles for some work ahead of training camp.
Wide receiver Dyami Brown has posted several videos this offseason showing his progress since re-signing with the Commanders in March after one season with the Jaguars. Brown shared a video earlier this offseason featuring Daniels, wide receiver Terry McLaurin, running back Rachaad White, and others.
Recently, Brown and others returned to Los Angeles to get more work with Daniels. But this time, several other teammates showed up too, including McLaurin, tight ends Ben Sinnott and John Bates, receiver Jaylin Lane, and others.
Here's Daniels getting some work in.
This tells you everything that Daniels is made of. Only a few days ago, some Washington fans, still desperately wanting the Commanders to sign Aiyuk when he's released, were openly saying Daniels was trolling everyone alongside Aiyuk on social media. Aiyuk criticized Daniels in a video last week, taking aim at the relationship between the young quarterback and his mother, who is his agent. Daniels responded only with a Kevin Durant photo giving two thumbs down.

Every time San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk goes a few days without posting on social media, everyone wonders if he's finally getting some good advice. After last weekend's meltdown, in which he took aim at his good friend, Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, Aiyuk was back at it on Wednesday.
"You're on my team now," Aiyuk said last weekend. "You follow my rules. Boy, I'm a grown a-- man. You're gonna have to start running behind your momma, and I might believe what you're talking about, but until then, uh-uh."
That was shocking. It led some Washington fans to think that Aiyuk and Daniels were somehow trolling the NFL world. That didn't make sense, but fans who somehow still wanted Aiyuk were trying to convince themselves it was a strategic effort to help Aiyuk secure his release from the 49ers.
On Wednesday, Aiyuk had a message for Daniels.
"He said, 'I don't do that internet s--t, Bro,'" Aiyuk said on Instagram, referring to Daniels. "'Hit my phone if you gotta talk to me. You got my number.' I called, and he didn't answer."

The San Francisco 49ers backed themselves into an uncomfortable corner with Brandon Aiyuk and having to listen to the updates about that situation every day has become exhausting for every NFL fan on the planet. It’s a situation that the Los Angeles Rams would avoided long ago, according to Colin Cowherd.
The outspoken sports talk show host went on The Herd this week and compared the Niners’ situation to how the Rams have handled similar cases, cutting bait with players—regardless of talent—before it becomes toxic.
“I’ve been saying this on the Niners for years— cut bait, move on. The Rams moved on from great players like Jalen Ramsey, Todd Gurley and Cooper Kupp. The Rams do a much better job at moving on from injured players or players with drama. The Niners either coddle or keep them in-house. That’s why the 49ers roster has become old, dramatic, brittle, and expensive. Brandon Aiyuk goes on Instagram and basically blows up any opportunity to play for a tremendous young quarterback, Jayden Daniels. The Commanders dodged and bullet here. That stuff is just bad and I wish the Niners would have moved on years ago.”
Watch the clip here:
The 49ers are unlikely to cut Aiyuk any time soon, unless he forces their hand by showing up for work. Aiyuk has consistently made it clear that he won’t do that. If Aiyuk comes to training camp, the 49ers may have to cut him. But if they don’t cut him, they’ll save millions in cap ****** e.

49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk called Mike Evans "unguardable" during the offseason practices. 49ers tight end George Kittle concurs.
Kittle lauded Evans' veteran leadership and football IQ.
"One thing that I was talking to [quarterback Brock] Purdy about a couple of days ago was that this is our first veteran wide receiver since we had Emmanuel Sanders," Kittle said recently on the New Heights podcast, via David Bonilla of 49erswebzone.com. "Like, I had Deebo [Samuel]. I had Brandon Aiyuk. But they were both like years one through four—Deebo was like year five.
"But Mike Evans is a guy, like, just watching him and his savviness—you know the concept; you have coverage in the red zone; one guy has the corner; the other guy has the 'now' route underneath it—and the way he sets it up versus a defender with outside leverage and then just gets wide open, and I'm just like, 'It's so fun to watch.'"
The 49ers, even with all their injuries last season, still finished fifth in passing offense. If Evans can stay healthy, he should make them even better.

The All-Arizona State alum football feud involving Brandon Aiyuk and Jayden Daniels escalated over the Fourth of July weekend.
Not only were they star players as Sun Devils, they were teammates. Unfortunately for Aiyuk's legacy, he's become seemingly detached from his original definition of reality.
As for Daniels, well, he seems to have taken the bait — at least until he deleted a response to Aiyuk's own baiting of the Washington Commanders quarterback.
The deleted post was the latest in a strange series of chapters.
The following is a USA TODAY Sports story by Joe Rivera published Sunday, July 5, at 11:30 a.m. MST (2:30 p.m. ET):

What did Brandon Aiyuk say about Jayden Daniels? Why Commanders QB is responding to 49ers WR's latest rant originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Brandon Aiyuk's official exit from San Francisco is inevitable, but his next move might not be the one most have long expected.
Aiyuk has been trying to will his way to the Washington Commanders for some time now, and the connection between himself and QB Jayden Daniels, who overlapped at Arizona State, seemingly made him an ideal fit with an offense that could use another standout wide receiver.
As Aiyuk's social media activity continues, however, he may be burning a bridge that could prevent him continuing his career in the NFC East.
Here's a look at what Aiyuk said about Daniels and how the Commanders quarterback is responding.

The forthcoming Brandon Aiyuk exit from the San Francisco 49ers has been televised – at least on Instagram.
Aiyuk and the 49ers are embroiled in a dramatic, messy exit, with the wide receiver seemingly having played his last down in San Francisco. Aiyuk has made as much clear, with numerous rants, posts and disparaging remarks about his soon-to-be former organization
On the Fourth of July, the Aiyuk exit saga took another twist, when he again took to social media, this time to rip someone not **** ociated with the 49ers. Directed at Washington Commanders Jayden Daniels – his one-time Arizona State teammate and future hopeful
"You're on my team now. You follow my rules," Aiyuk said in an Instagram story post tagged with Daniels' account. "Boy, I'm a grown-(expletive) man, boy. You're gonna have to stop running behind your momma, and I might believe what you're talking about."
Here's how the Aiyuk saga has unfolded across phone screens this offseason:

I legit had an opinion piece in the hopper about why the Commanders should ignore all the social media nonsense and sign receiver Brandon Aiyuk when the 49ers release him.
This morning, I hit delete.
I think we're done here.
Overpay for Stefon Diggs. Maybe $10-15 million for one year. It's okay. The Commanders can afford it from a cap perspective. They need another receiver. Even the Treylon Burks truthers must agree with that.
For those who truly enjoyed their Fourth of July – a sacred holiday for those who cover the NFL, because the life interrupts ever other one – then you missed some fireworks.

Brandon Aiyuk keeps burning bridges.
He may have burned the one bridge that would have led him to the Commanders — his former Arizona State teammate.
Earlier today, after posting an item regarding whether the Commanders have interest in Aiyuk, someone in a position to know a little something about the situation pointed out that the Commanders would indeed pursue the 49ers receiver, if quarterback Jayden Daniels wants Aiyuk on the team. And it was believed that Daniels did indeed want Aiyuk.
Then, all ***** broke loose on social media.
Aiyuk, as many have noticed, unfollowed Daniels on Instagram. Then, Aiyuk posted on his Instagram story a couple of videos directed at Daniels.

Brandon Aiyuk just failed the test...big time.
He was on social media again on Saturday. This time, Aiyuk claimed that his college teammate at Arizona State, Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, texted him saying that he (Brandon Aiyuk) has to follow the rules since "he's on his (Daniels') team."
Aiyuk and Daniels also unfollowed one another on social media.
Now, first of all, we have no idea, as of Saturday night, whether this is what actually transpired. Secondly, if the two were talking and Daniels was telling Aiyuk he needs to come to grips with the fact that he can't always criticize others on his team or in his organization, that makes perfect sense.
The conversation might even have gone so far as Daniels informing Aiyuk that things between them would not be as they were in college. Daniels is expected to lead in Washington, so Aiyuk needs to consider if he can handle the dynamics of their relationship changing 100 percent. That also makes perfect sense.

The San Francisco 49ers situation with disgruntled wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has continued throughout the offseason, with the wideout making several statements on social media against his current team as he remains under contract.
Things have been downhill between the two sides after Aiyuk signed a major four-year extension back in the 2024 offseason. The star wideout tore his ACL and MCL during the 2024 offseason, then had the guarantees in his contract last offseason voided after electing not to report for rehab.
Aiyuk did not play the entire 2025 season, and it’s clear he will not return to the organization, although he remains on the roster heading into July.
Last week, NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco delved into the situation, sharing his thoughts on Aiyuk’s actions. He revealed that even two years ago, there were doubts within the 49ers organization on the wideout’s desires for his future.
“2 years ago, when they were going through these negotiations, I mean, there were people in the 49ers organization who thought that Brandon Aiyuk didn’t want to play football anymore because the 49ers had given him a contract offer and he kind of just sat on it, really didn’t get back to them.” Maiocco revealed.

It's officially the dead season for the NFL. OTAs and minicamps have concluded, and the players are off until the end of July. So, this is when members of the media tend to come up with their own things to discuss regarding the NFL. Usually, this is when we ****** s offseason moves, acquisitions, departures, and how all of the little nuances of each organization will affect the team going forward.
Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer recently discussed where every NFL team currently stands at the summer break. For the Washington Commanders, he's pretty on point with where things stand.
The Commanders are coming back with a bit of a different approach after going for broke with veteran additions last year. Obviously, getting Jayden Daniels healthy and trying to avoid injuries will be key—and the coaches, with new OC David Blough leading the way, believe playing Daniels under center more will help. I’d also say adding Brandon Aiyuk, if he has his head on straight, would help, with Terry McLaurin and a really good line already in place.
There are still many questions about the Commanders' offense in 2026. General manager Adam Peters didn't make a ton of adjustments there, and it's still unclear whether Brandon Aiyuk will even land in Washington, when the San Francisco 49ers eventually release him. Peters is close friends with 49ers GM John Lynch, and it seems he isn't a fan of some of the things Aiyuk has said. Which is why Breer qualified his statement with "if he has his head on straight."
The Commanders' defense looks vastly improved on paper, but it is yet to be tested. The Commanders' offense doesn't look that different from 2025, and that has some people worried. However, every year, every NFL team has a chance to prove itself. After a stellar 2024 season and a wildly opposite 2025 season, the Commanders will have to do just that to get people to buy in.

The Terrion Arnold news could have the Cowboys and Lions talking about a trade. What's going to happen to the former first-round pick regarding his felony kidnapping and robbery charges remains to be seen, but his release has left Detroit with a hole in their secondary... and Dallas suddenly finds themselves in a position to do a deal. To top today's Cowboys headlines, we explore why Caelen Carson might bring the best return in a swap with the Lions.
Elsewhere in Cowboys Nation, we get to know Curtis Robinson, the newly-added veteran linebacker who may be flying under fans' radars, and we learn that a new poll has the Cowboys coming in second when it comes to identifying who is truly "America's Team."
Looking at the Cowboys' upcoming opponents, it's worth noting that Micah Parsons not only played in but won a star-studded pickleball tournament recently. While Parsons is expected to miss the first four games of the season for the Packers, he's certainly making moves toward getting back on the field. Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk may have blown his chances with the Commanders, and the Rams are looking very much like the team to beat in 2026.
Elsewhere in the league, the NFL's kickoff weekend may suddenly have a scheduling conflict. Republicans have just announced a midterm convention- to be held in Dallas- that will clash with the first two games of the NFL's primetime schedule: the Sept. 9 Patriots-Seahawks kickoff, and the Sept. 10 Rams-49ers tilt being played in Melbourne, Australia. No word yet on whether either side will budge. We're learning more about Dianna Russini's wild story where she supposedly FaceTimed an NFL coach during a traffic stop. Bodycam video shows a different reality... and actually pulls the Minnesota Vikings and quarterback J.J. McCarthy into the drama, too.
Cowboys and Lions could link up for trade after Terrion Arnold release :: SI.com (Link)

Jay Gruden should go into NFL TV commentary.
Gruden, the former Washington Redskins head coach (2014-2019), was on Team 980 on Tuesday with host Kevin Sheehan on the "Kevin Sheehan Show."
Gruden doesn't hold back; he has a sense of humor, and he has nothing to lose when speaking his mind. Of course, the top conversation surrounding the Commanders right now centers around San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Does Gruden think Washington should pursue Aiyuk when the 49ers move on from him?
Here are some good quotes from Gruden's Tuesday conversation with Sheehan.
"He (Brandon Aiyuk) needs to quiet down; he needs to get himself reinstated. He needs to do things the right way. Report to the 49ers and hopefully they release him, and he becomes available. I mean, that is the only option that he has."

While there's been plenty of attention paid to who the San Francisco 49ers have brought in this offseason, not as much has been discussed about what they've lost, which includes some key contributors.
Arguably their biggest loss of the offseason was at wide receiver, as Jauan Jennings left for a one-year, $8 million deal with the Minnesota Vikings, where he'll be the team's third or fourth option.
The impact of Jennings' departure may be offset by the arrivals of Mike Evans, Christian Kirk and De'Zhaun Stribling, but Jennings is still being identified as one of the league's most underrated wide receivers heading into 2026.
"In Minnesota, the 28-year-old will be sharing targets with Justin Jefferson, budding star Jordan Addison and tight end T.J. Hockenson," Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox wrote. "However, Jennings' value to the Vikings should be tremendous. He doesn't possess elite speed, but he's consistently shown that he can win with size (6-foot-3, 212 lbs), physicality, route-running and work ethic. The fact that he didn't sign with Minnesota until May was surprising."
Over the last five years, Jennings caught 210 passes for 2,581 yards and 22 touchdowns for the 49ers and really turned things up a notch the past two seasons with Deebo Samuel's departure and Brandon Aiyuk's injury/off-field issues.

In recent days, 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk has been posting complaints about his current team and his now-former agent.
On Sunday, Aiyuk targeted the NFL Players ******* ociation.
In a post appearing on his Instagram story, Aiyuk said this: "When members of the union that is in place to help players is lying/withholding information from a player on behalf of the team alongside a certified agent.. That’s some straight BS!!! Some players have no other place to go for information or help, and are relying on the union to help them continue advancing in their careers and lives! I'm sure there are great members of the union, so this message does not pertain to them but about the ones in my specific case."
Aiyuk seems to be confusing union membership with union leadership. That said, he hasn't made a specific complaint regarding anything the union has done, or failed to do, as to his current situation.
When the 49ers voided Aiyuk's contractual guarantees, he reportedly decided not to fight it. If he had decided to do so, the NFLPA would have taken up the cause.

Ahead of the 2024 season, the San Francisco 49ers signed receiver Brandon Aiyuk to a four-year, $120 million contract after a long offseason standoff.
At the time it looked like a necessary deal to lock down the 49ers' top receiver following three consecutive NFC champion appearances and one Super Bowl loss. But just two years later, Aiyuk's deal will likely go down as one of the worst contracts in the history of the John Lynch-Kyle Shanahan era.
When the 49ers inevitably move on from Aiyuk, either with a trade or release, he'll have played just seven total games on that deal. Now, the 49ers didn't end up giving him much after voiding his guarantees when he refused to report to the team in 2025, but the decision will still live in infamy in recent team history.
But is it the worst contract Lynch and Shanahan have ever given out during their tenure together in San Francisco? Let's explore the top-10 worst 49ers contracts since 2017. It should be noted that most of these are injury-related more than simply overpays.
Bosa's contract was recently ranked one of the worst deals in the NFL — and for good reason. After a Defensive Player of the Year season in 2022, Bosa's production declined in back-to-back years before he missed all but three games in 2025 with his third ACL tear. While the 49ers restructured the deal to reduce Bosa's 2026 cap hit to just $17.7 million, it also increased in future years by $4.29 million. Bosa is one of the best defensive players in the NFL when heathly, but he simply hasn't been since signing this mega extension.

You can say this for Brandon Aiyuk: He has at least been clear about his wishes.
The San Francisco 49ers’ wide receiver continued his campaign for a way off the team — and onto the Washington Commanders — on Wednesday, with a series of posts on his Instagram story. They began with a caption reading "I'm a lover I ain't with the hating," a selfie with Future's "Unconditional Love" playing and a picture of Deion Sanders in a Washington uniform.
His next posts featured a football with a Commanders logo and the following captions:
"The best sport in the world The best league in the world n the best team in the world"
"And I almost forgot.. The best WR in the world"

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle has apparently had enough of his teammate, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
Joining "Pardon My Take," which is hosted by Big Cat and PFT Commenter, Kittle was asked about Aiyuk. What Kittle said leaves no doubt that Aiyuk has indeed played his last down for the 49ers.
"The last time I saw Aiyuk was, call it Week 6, 7 or 8. I don't really know," Kittle told PFF Commenter who is a Washington Commanders fan.
"I used to make it a habit of mine to go out early in the morning before meetings to watch him train because he'd always be out there early, and I watched him run over 22 miles per hour and watched him stop on a dime. He's still got, but that was eight months ago, so I don't really know. You guys have fun with that, I guess."
After PFF Commenter responded, Kittle repeated, "You have fun with all that comes with it." When PFF Commenter replied that once Aiyuk lands with the Commanders, he'll finally be happy, Kittle added one more zinger.

Brandon Aiyuk and the San Francisco 49ers are going through a very public divorce. But, in the eyes of the NFL, they are very much still together.
That's because the 49ers, even after taking measures to void the guaranteed money owed to him in 2026, have yet to release the former All-Pro. Aiyuk missed the entire 2025 season due to injury, his first after signing a four-year, $120 million contract extension. His absence at rehab sessions led to an impasse with the team and, eventually, a loud declaration to the rest of the league that the differences between team and player were irreconcilable.
Since we're beyond June 1, San Francisco can trade or release Aiyuk without incurring a massive dead salary cap hit. While a swap is likely out of the question due to scheduled cap hits of more than $40 million the next two seasons, cutting the former first round pick would allow both sides to get a fresh start. The Niners haven't made their move yet, so Aiyuk has been not-so-subtly pressuring them on social media.
Two weeks ago, it was criticizing management in a since-deleted video. Now it's an Instagram story where he says "go Commanders" a whole bunch.
Washington would be a logical fit for the 28-year-old. He shared an offense with current Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels at Arizona State in 2019 -- the same season that boosted Aiyuk into a Day 1 draft slot. Daniels backslid in 2025 after his rookie of the year campaign in 2024 thanks in part to a limited receiving corps. Terry McLaurin remains the alpha in the Washington passing offense, but behind him is a mix of guys like Luke McCaffrey, Dyami Brown and Treylon Burks. Even a diminished Aiyuk could play a significant role as a downfield threat.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is at it again. On Father's Day, Aiyuk continued his flirtation with the Washington Commanders, posting another video on his personal Instagram page.
What did Aiyuk say this time?
"Go Commanders. Go Commanders. Go Commanders. Raise Hail. Take Command."
It's the latest Instagram video from Aiyuk, where he clearly makes it known that his preferred place to play is Washington, where he'd reunite with quarterback Jayden Daniels. Aiyuk and Daniels were teammates at Arizona State in 2019 and remain close friends.
In addition to Sunday's video, Aiyuk previously posted photos of himself in a Washington hat and another with a Commanders' football. He's also posted images, where he's tagged the location as Virginia or Washington, D.C. The Commanders' team headquarters is in Ashburn, Virginia.