- May 21, 2026
- 7,144
- 0
49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk continues to make it known that he wants to play for the Commanders.
His current Instagram story includes a video of Aiyuk holding an NFL football with a Commanders logo on it. A graphic on the video says, "The best sport in the world. The best league in the world [and] the best team in the world."
Another video in the story has Aiyuk saying this: "And if I’m crazy or if I’m cappin', tell them boys cut me today. And I’ll sign with the Commanders tomorrow."
At some point, it's fair to ask whether Aiyuk is simply expressing a keen interest in playing for the Commanders, or whether he's revealing that communications with the Commanders have occurred. Absent permission from the 49ers to talk to other teams about a possible trade, any discussions between Aiyuk or his agent and Commanders representatives could be viewed as tampering.
Of course, tampering happens all the time. The NFL rarely enforces the rule.
Often, the rule is enforced when the evidence of tampering is blatant. Aiyuk's comments could be viewed as such, if the league decides to look into it — or if the 49ers complain.
Aiyuk remains under contract for 2026, with a non-guaranteed salary of more than $26 million. It's believed that the 49ers will release Aiyuk, if he shows up for training camp.
He could have forced the issue by showing up for the offseason program. He didn't.
His current Instagram story includes a video of Aiyuk holding an NFL football with a Commanders logo on it. A graphic on the video says, "The best sport in the world. The best league in the world [and] the best team in the world."
Another video in the story has Aiyuk saying this: "And if I’m crazy or if I’m cappin', tell them boys cut me today. And I’ll sign with the Commanders tomorrow."
At some point, it's fair to ask whether Aiyuk is simply expressing a keen interest in playing for the Commanders, or whether he's revealing that communications with the Commanders have occurred. Absent permission from the 49ers to talk to other teams about a possible trade, any discussions between Aiyuk or his agent and Commanders representatives could be viewed as tampering.
Of course, tampering happens all the time. The NFL rarely enforces the rule.
Often, the rule is enforced when the evidence of tampering is blatant. Aiyuk's comments could be viewed as such, if the league decides to look into it — or if the 49ers complain.
Aiyuk remains under contract for 2026, with a non-guaranteed salary of more than $26 million. It's believed that the 49ers will release Aiyuk, if he shows up for training camp.
He could have forced the issue by showing up for the offseason program. He didn't.