BREAKING: Brandon Aiyuk responds to NFL and commanders’ trade rumors with cryptic comment.
The San Francisco 49ers reportedly had trade talks with the Washington Commanders about 49ers wideout Brandon Aiyuk, but the Commanders declined, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter on NFL Live Monday.
Later in the day, JPA Football shared the Schefter report on Instagram, to which Aiyuk responded: “But I thought the niners was never tryna trade me?”
𝐔𝐏𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: Brandon Aiyuk on IG 😳
“But I thought the niners was never tryna trade me?” https://t.co/QAwCeicwqh pic.twitter.com/ULm733js1g
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) June 25, 2024
Aiyuk, 26, has just caught 75 catches for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns. He is entering the final year of his rookie contract after the 49ers exercised his fifth-year option.
During the NFL draft in April, both general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan admitted that the 49ers had discussions with other clubs about Aiyuk, but nothing seemed to come together.
ESPN’s Nick Wagoner gave this report:
“On Thursday, Lynch and Shanahan revealed that they had had discussions with other teams. However, Lynch stated that no transactions were close to being completed, while Shanahan stated that trading Aiyuk or fellow wideout Deebo Samuel were unlikely.
“Asked late Thursday night if such a trade could still happen heading into Friday, Lynch and Shanahan again didn’t sound like a deal for either player was imminent, though they didn’t close the door completely.”
Aiyuk is clearly unhappy with the situation. On June 17, he appeared in a TikTok video alongside Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, claiming, “They said they don’t want me back.” It is unclear what Aiyuk meant by that, whether it is after his contract expires in 2024 or whether the organization does not want him at his asking price in a long-term contract.
There are a few obvious ties to the Commanders. First, he and Daniels are buddies and former Arizona State teammates. Second, Commanders general manager Adam Peters worked in the 49ers front office from 2017 to 2023, under Lynch and Shanahan.
Also, ESPN analyst Ryan Clark released more information on NFL Live about a meeting Aiyuk set up with the 49ers, among other things.
“Brandon Aiyuk told us that he wanted to set up this meeting himself,” Ryan Clark said on ESPN (via Grant Cohn of All 49ers).
“And as he was there with us, he stated that he is taking these negotiations personally. The way they negotiated with him, the way they explained why he is worth what he is, has moved him. It has influenced him. He says he wants to play in San Francisco first and foremost, but he is open to playing elsewhere if the 49ers are ready to do so through trade. And I’ll tell you this: when he sat with us, he didn’t enter the room alone. First, there was Brandon Aiyuk. Second, it was Jayden Daniels. I’m hardly a tea leaf reader, but it appears Aiyuk would enjoy playing in Washington.
The 49ers and Aiyuk have discussed a deal, but work appears to have “stalled,” according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on June 17.
In essence, this is a protracted, drawn-out contract story with no end in sight and no apparent path for resolution. What we do know is that Aiyuk is now under contract for another year, but it is evident that his time in town may be limited.
