While the Washington Commanders have made several moves in free agency, the Brandon Aiyuk saga could remain unanswered for a bit longer
It may have been a slow start for the Washington Commanders once the legal tampering window opened at noon on Monday, but Tuesday into Wednesday proved to yield several impact free agent signings after addressing multiple positions.
The outlook of the front seven looks drastically different after the last 72 hours with Jayson Oweh highlighting four signings in the trenches, along with former Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal. The addition of Nick Cross and Chig Okonkwo not only reunites a pair of former Maryland teammates, but gives Washington a clear upgrade at safety and tight end, two more positions of need.
The signing of Okonkwo proved notable given it's the lone free agent signing along the offensive side of the ball so far, but how soon Washington is able to acquire arguably the most obvious offseason move across the league is now up in the air.
After news initially broke on Wednesday that the San Francisco 49ers could release wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk as early as Wednesday, the official start of the new league year, Nick Wagoner of ESPN later clarified that was a possibility. Then, Wagoner noted it was unlikely that the 49ers opt to move on from Aiyuk any time soon with general manager John Lynch eyeing a last-minute trade, arguably a chance to capitalize on the Commanders' being ready to pounce.
Would a day three pick be enough for Aiyuk? Pick swap? Maybe, but maybe the bigger question is whether there will be a concrete development in the saga that has now dragged through the 2025 season into now two months into the offseason.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reported the same later on Wednesday, noting that San Francisco is unlikely to "release him any time."
"They essentially have no guaranteed money left on his contract, so they can hold onto him for the time being," Schefter added on NFL Live.
Of course, Washington has long been viewed as the very likely favorite for Aiyuk should a release materialize as has been expected for months, largely behind the connection between quarterback Jayden Daniels and Aiyuk from their one season together at Arizona State. Daniels was also at Aiyuk's wedding and the two's friendship has fueled the fire that Washington could replace one departing former 49er wide receiver with another in 2026.
The expectation is that if Aiyuk to Washington does materialize, the Commanders will pursue another wide receiver with both Samuel and Noah Brown available free agents this offseason. Washington was an active player with a pair of top available wide receivers in Alec Pierce and Romeo Doubs, finishing runner-up in both cases with others like Jauan Jennings, another former 49ers wide receiver, also still available. How Washington addresses the unit remains an unanswered question with options still available, but now, so does Aiyuk's availability this offseason.
Aiyuk was inactive for the entire 2025 season in an ongoing, widely debated saga after playing seven games in 2024 following a torn ACL and MCL. The expectation is Aiyuk is now fully healthy given he is now 17 months removed from the injury, though no official word has ever been released with the 49ers noting that communication with Aiyuk became nonexistent by the end of the 2025 season.