SANTA CLARA, Calif. — In the days after the San Francisco 49ers‘ 2025 season ended, basic supervisor John Lynch made it clear that the group can be parting methods with extensive receiver Brandon Aiyuk sooner or later this offseason.
At the NFL mix a month later, Lynch mentioned the group was ready for the new league yr in March to make that transaction official sooner or later thereafter.
Then finally week’s league conferences in Phoenix, coach Kyle Shanahan echoed that sentiment, however clarified that the transfer would not be carried out shortly except somebody made a suitable commerce supply.
“I don’t have a date for it,” Shanahan mentioned. “But I know eventually it’ll resolve itself. Hopefully, we could get something for [him]. And I know we’re in no rush to do that.”
In what’s turning into considered one of the longest divorce proceedings in latest NFL reminiscence, the Niners are clinging to hope that they’ll get something for a participant who hasn’t performed since Oct. 20, 2024 (when he tore the ACL, MCL and meniscus in his right knee) and hasn’t been in contact with the group since late November.
Despite Shanahan’s and Lynch’s feedback about Aiyuk transferring on, Niners proprietor Jed York added a brand new wrinkle final week by indicating there’s at the least a protracted shot chance Aiyuk might stick with the group in 2026.
“I think anything is possible, right?” York mentioned. “We want to make sure that we have as talented of a roster as possible. First and foremost, he needs to get healthy and be able to perform. I think once that happens, he’s a really, really good football player.”
Here’s a deeper take a look at the place issues stand with Aiyuk, the possibilities of a commerce and whether or not it is truly doable he’ll keep in San Francisco.
How lengthy will the 49ers keep Aiyuk?
For now, the solely deadline is Sept. 1, when Aiyuk has a $24.935 million choice bonus due. The 49ers would like to maneuver on from Aiyuk lengthy earlier than then, however with that date to date out, it at the least provides them flexibility.
The Niners do not want the minimal 2026 cap area that releasing Aiyuk would create, in order that they’re incentivized to carry on to him in case a group needs to make a commerce supply.
While Shanahan’s and York’s feedback appeared to trace at various things on the floor, they each successfully served to let the league know that in the event that they wish to purchase Aiyuk, consider his well being and get him acclimated throughout the offseason program, they’d should do one thing quickly.
“You’ve got to do what’s right for the Niners and you’re not trying to hook up any other team as fast as you possibly can,” Shanahan mentioned.
Team and league sources have indicated that the Washington Commanders are the more than likely touchdown spot for Aiyuk when he does transfer on. Commanders basic supervisor Adam Peters was in San Francisco’s personnel division when it drafted Aiyuk. More necessary, Aiyuk is shut mates with Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels from their shared time at Arizona State, and Aiyuk has been open about his want to play with Daniels in the previous. If anybody can supply some perception into how Aiyuk is doing, it is most likely Daniels.
Shanahan and Peters dined collectively at the league conferences in Phoenix, however it stays to be seen whether or not the Commanders can be prepared to surrender one thing for Aiyuk fairly than wait to see whether or not he is launched.
For now, the 49ers appear content material to attend and see if any group is prepared to provide them one thing for Aiyuk.
How do the financials play into makes an attempt to commerce Aiyuk?
Aiyuk’s base wage for 2026 is simply $1.215 million, a relative cut price, all issues thought-about. But that choice bonus complicates issues for any group that might look to accumulate him.
If the bonus will get exercised, the group using Aiyuk must prorate it by way of 2030, successfully including doubtlessly important lifeless cash to their cap if Aiyuk would not produce. That bonus additionally is not assured after the Niners voided Aiyuk’s remaining guarantees final July when he did not take part in necessary rehab periods for his injured proper knee.
But if that choice bonus is not exercised, an buying group can be on the hook for all of it without delay, driving his wage for 2026 to greater than $26 million. Combine that with base salaries that inflate to $27.274 million in 2027 and $29.15 million in 2028, and it is laborious to check any group eager to pay Aiyuk that a lot, particularly with the uncertainty surrounding him coming off the damage and the way issues in San Francisco have performed out.
Any group wanting to accumulate Aiyuk would virtually actually wish to rework his deal, one thing that might show difficult since that might give Aiyuk company in the place he in the end lands.
If the 49ers do release Aiyuk earlier than June 1, the plan is to do it with a post-June 1 designation. That would imply the practically $30 million in lifeless cash they have to tackle the wage cap can be break up up into $13.325 million in 2026 and $21.247 million in 2027.
Those similar numbers additionally apply to a commerce, although it must be famous that trades can’t be given the post-June 1 designation, so if the Niners needed to separate up the cash and commerce Aiyuk, they’d have to attend till June.
Is it life like to assume somebody will commerce for Aiyuk, and in that case, what might the 49ers get?
Considering all the monetary implications and the quantity of unknowns about Aiyuk, it is tough to check a group being prepared to commerce for him.
That has been the case to date, although maybe it might change after the draft if a receiver-needy group cannot fill its wants at the place. What’s extra, it is laborious to know what Aiyuk is considering since he hasn’t publicly addressed something that has occurred in San Francisco since his damage in 2024.
As for what the Niners might get for Aiyuk, presents together with picks in the first few rounds (like they received earlier than he signed his contract extension in 2024) have lengthy since disappeared.
In conditions like this, a late-round decide swap is commonly the resolution, however the Niners cannot actually do this on this yr’s draft as a result of they do not presently personal any picks past the fourth spherical. That, once more, factors to any distant probability of a commerce coming after the draft and maybe properly into the summer season with minimal return together with picks in 2027 and past.
Could the 49ers mend fences and keep Aiyuk?
It can be silly to rule out something, particularly relating to the 49ers. In 2022, the Niners and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo very publicly said goodbye to each other in anticipation of an offseason commerce earlier than shoulder surgical procedure in the end stored him in San Francisco on a revamped contract. He began 10 video games for the Niners that yr after an ungainly coaching camp by which he rehabbed on a aspect subject.
That scenario, in fact, is vastly completely different than this one, regardless of York’s phrases a couple of doable reconciliation and the way the Niners’ additions of veteran receivers Mike Evans and Christian Kirk might assist Aiyuk reintegrate into the locker room.
“I think we’re making sure that that room is what it needs to be,” York mentioned. “And if BA’s a part of that room, we’re going to be more talented, and I have no problem with that.”
Of course, even when the Niners did reverse course and try to keep Aiyuk, there is not any assure he’d even be open to such an association.
All of which nonetheless factors to Aiyuk and the Niners parting methods in the coming weeks or months, as questions of when and the way proceed to loom.
