Brandon Aiyuk's social media antics might be scaring off Commanders
· Yahoo Sports
The endless, toxic standoff between the San Francisco 49ers and Brandon Aiyuk has long felt destined for a split. For months, the disgruntled wideout has made no secret of his preferred landing spot, consistently voicing his desire to play for the Washington Commanders alongside his former Arizona State teammate, Jayden Daniels.
But while Aiyuk remains under contract with the 49ers on the reserve/left squad list, his scorched-earth tactics might be backfiring. Instead of forcing general manager John Lynch's hand into a clean break, Aiyuk's erratic social media posts—frequently lambasting the 49ers organization, the front office, and the coaching staff—are raising major red flags for the very team he is trying to join.
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According to The Athletic's Nicki Jhabvala, Washington was previously open to a low-risk, highly incentivized one-year deal if the 49ers eventually chose to release him before training camp. Now, that potential landing spot looks incredibly shaky.
But this was before the erratic Instagram rants that have created worry about Aiyuk’s frame of mind. What was once a seemingly minimal-risk option now appears more concerning.
If the 49ers do release Aiyuk before the start of training camp, the Commanders could still consider him. But they’d have to feel incredibly confident that he’s fit, physically and emotionally, to not just sign, but be committed to what they’re trying to build. That’s a big “if” given his recent history and the fallout with the 49ers.
There’s a lot to unpack and plenty of reason for the Commanders to have trepidation in taking him on, if there’s still interest. He has seemed to achieve what he wants by drawing headline after headline with his social media posts, but the long-term prospects of a return no longer seem as promising.
It’s a massive gamble by a player who hasn't seen game action since his October 2024 knee injury. By publicly shouting "Go Commanders" and calling the 49ers front office "stupid" for how they handled his contract, Aiyuk wanted to make himself untradeable and unkeepable. He succeeded there, but he may have also tanked his market value in the process.
If Adam Peters and the Commanders are getting cold feet, Aiyuk's next contract might look nothing like the blockbuster deal he originally envisioned.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Brandon Aiyuk's social media antics might be scaring off Commanders