Commanders Set to Land Brandon Aiyuk in 2026 Offseason, Reuniting Him with Best Friend Jayden Daniels
The Washington Commanders are on their bye week with a 3-8 record, but there's no shortage of news, as always.
There are still plenty of matchups to watch around the league that can change the Commanders' order in the 2026 NFL draft, and even an interesting story that has a deep connection to Jayden Daniels. The roster needs a lot of help on both sides of the ball this offseason, and they will be the heavy favorites to sign a newly available player who is best friends with Daniels.
The ties with the San Francisco 49ers could continue, as wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk could very likely be heading to Washington this offseason as a free agent.
San Francisco 49ers likely to release Brandon Aiyuk this offseason
The marriage between the 49ers and Aiyuk has actually been falling apart for a while now, but it seems like a real separation is in the near future for the two. He signed a four-year, $120 million extension just 15 months ago, but now Aiyuk is likely to be released after the season due to the fallout.
Aiyuk has been rehabbing his severe knee injury for over a year now, and his displeasure with the team has heated up recently. His dramatic holdout very likely stained his relationship with the 49ers, after posting clips and appearances with Daniels and talking about trade rumors to the Commanders and Pittsburgh Steelers. The relationship has only gotten worse, as the 49ers have reportedly voided Aiyuk's 2026 guarantees worth over $25 million for skipping team meetings and activities, and going rogue on the team.
He decided not to dispute the 49ers' voiding of his 2026 guaranteed money, which signals that a release is very likely when the season ends, and he will be a free agent looking for a new team.
Jayden Daniels could likely reunite with Brandon Aiyuk
Aiyuk not disputing losing over $25 million means that he doesn't care about the money right now, and he just wanted out of San Francisco. This means that the Commanders will be heavy favorites to land the wide receiver since they won't need to trade for him, and he's free to sign wherever he wants to. His top option will be going back to his best friend, and former Arizona State quarterback, as they talked about before.
Everyone remembers how Aiyuk posted a screenshot of Daniels at the Commanders' practice, the two showing up on the show "The Pivot" together, and all of their social media posts together. Aiyuk's holdout really heated up trade rumors to the Commanders, which ended up not happening, but it could now with an easy pathway.
Medicals on his knee and the price to sign him will certainly be major factors, but he was expected to come back in September and will have plenty of time to recover by next season. Daniels could help get the friendly discount for Aiyuk, who showed that missing out on money doesn't matter much anymore if he can play where he wants to.
The Commanders could move on from Terry McLaurin after next season , and they also have a decision to make with Deebo Samuel this offseason. Regardless, the offense needs playmakers after seeing the offense struggle with injuries. Getting Aiyuk wouldn't require a draft pick, could be cheap, and wouldn't stop the Commanders from still drafting another young receiver. The Commanders will be the clear favorites to sign Aiyuk this offseason, and Daniels would be happy to finally be back with his guy.
Jauan Jennings Dodges Aiyuk’s Contract Questions: “I Just Hope He’s Healing Up”
Jauan Jennings masterfully avoided saying anything when asked about the 49ers' decision to void Brandon Aiyuk's 2026 guaranteed money.
The San Francisco 49ers dropped a bombshell on Friday when the team announced it was voiding Brandon Aiyuk’s 2026 guaranteed money. The surprise move came amid reports that the organization had grown frustrated with Aiyuk’s absence from the team. The 49ers believes the veteran receiver failed to live up to contractual obligations by missing meetings and team activities.
Aiyuk has been sidelined since tearing his ACL and MCL in Week 7 of the 2024 season. After 13 months, the 49ers still have no timeline for his return to the field.
Upon learning of the voided money, reporters asked Jauan Jennings for his take on the situation. But the veteran receiver wasn’t about to provide a damning sound bite on his teammate’s contract situation.
“I don’t even know what the question is, for real, that you just asked me,” Jennings said, per 49ers On SI’s Grant Cohn.
Reporter: “He had his contract voided for next year… is that something the locker room was aware of?”
Jennings: “I don’t even know what that means.”
Reporter: “That his guaranteed money next year was voided.”
Jennings: “That mean he don’t get it?”
Reporter: “Correct.”
Jennings: “I mean, I guess that's something between him and the organization… I just hope he’s healing up.”
49ers open to potential Brandon Aiyuk return in 2025
Despite Jennings doing his best Johnny Tightlips impression, reporters persisted. Asked when he last saw Aiyuk around the 49ers’ facility, Jennings said he was too concerned with being on time to meetings to notice. Asked what he thought of Aiyuk’s lengthy rehab, Jennings said, “I don’t know the timeline, I’m not a doctor. I just hope he’s healing up.”
While San Francisco’s response to Aiyuk’s absence was drastic, head coach Kyle Shanahan left the door open for the receiver’s return to the team. Shanahan also walked back some of the 49ers’ initial accusations.
The veteran coach explained that injured players are on different schedules than the rest of the team. That could account for some of Aiyuk’s absences from team activities, according to Shanahan.
The 49ers improved to 7-4 on the season with a win over the Arizona Cardinals in Brock Purdy’s return from injury. San Francisco squares off against the Carolina Panthers on Monday Night Football in Week 12.
