Fowler doesn’t believe Commanders in on Aiyuk

Aiyuk, who is still under contract with the 49ers, continues to post highly erratic videos to social media platforms after a California judge issued a warrant for his arrest in early June following exhibitionist speeding past the 49ers stadium. Jhabvala said the posts could make it less likely that Aiyuk lands with Washington ahead of the regular season. It’s been nearly 20 months since Aiyuk was last on an NFL field. “What was once a seemingly minimal-risk option now appears more concerning,” Jhabvala said, adding that the Commanders would “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 appears more unlikely with every unhinged Instagram video. Aiyuk, 28, said on June 25 that he would “sign with the Commanders” tomorrow if the Niners cut him from their roster.

In a social media post, evidently streamed from a residence in Washington, D.C., Aiyuk asks his audience whether a warrant for his arrest has actually been issued. The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office issued a warrant for his arrest on a misdemeanor charge of exhibition of speeding on June 3rd. We are surprised to learn that he is not fully aware of this. This situation presents a problem for him. Aiyuk has been placed on the reserve/left squad list, which means the 49ers do not have to pay him unless he applies for, and is granted, reinstatement. After that, he must return to the team facility. Once he does so, the 49ers must make a decision as to whether they pay him or release him. As long as he remains away from the team, the 49ers’ front office is not obligated to make a decision. If Aiyuk is set on avoiding California due to the arrest warrant, we see no reason to believe that this situation will be resolved anytime soon.

He said this in a video of himself he posted to social media. Aiyuk remains under contract with the 49ers while on the reserve/left squad list. He has only ever needed to show up to practice to force the 49ers to cut him. Aiyuk has yet to do that, giving his rather spiteful team no reason to let him hit free agency. For now, Aiyuk is in a weird standoff with the team that once signed him to a four-year, $120 million contract. It’s unclear when he will be released, but it’s hard to imagine him going anywhere other than Washington when that happens.

The warrant stems from a video recorded by Aiyuk in December in which the beleaguered receiver filmed himself speeding past Levi’s Stadium. Aiyuk remains a member of the 49ers but the team has publicly stated that he has played his last snap with the franchise. Expectations were that the 49ers were looking to trade Aiyuk following June 1, but the most recent fallout from his display of character could throw a wrench in any ongoing negotiations. He appears headed for a release, subjecting himself to the mercy of the free agent market that also includes other notable veteran wide receivers.

The 49ers voided Aiyuk’s 2026 guarantees in November and will only be required to pay him if he remains on the roster on September 1. Fowler said a trade is still possible, but questions remain about Aiyuk’s surgically-repaired knee. He also has not spoken to the organization for some time. It’s an unfortunate situation that could drag on for a while.

Our most recent report on Aiyuk came from The Athletic’s Matt Barrows late in April. Barrows believes the team’s first organized team activities session, on May 27th, “might be an unofficial marker” for Aiyuk’s release. That date is just six days away and no new trade rumors have surfaced. If they wish to end the saga, we could see him hit free agency soon. It sounds like they may be committed to holding out for a trade partner this summer, though.

The 49ers are currently sitting on Aiyuk’s contract, which now has all of its future guarantees voided. They have reportedly been looking for a trade partner, though there’s no chance a team trades for a player whom the 49ers GM John Lynch himself has said is done with the team. Aiyuk is currently on the reserve/left squad list, meaning the 49ers don’t have to pay him anything right now. He could force their hand by showing up to OTAs. In Barrows’ cutting words, “Maybe Aiyuk’s most effective move is something he failed to do last season — show up for work.” Assuming he does that, the 49ers will release him, at which point he would be likely to sign with the Commanders, if previous reports are to be believed.

The 49ers have already made it abundantly clear that Aiyuk will not be playing for them moving forward after a saga that included the team removing his guaranteed money for not showing up to rehab sessions. Rapoport added that the Commanders have had continued interest in the veteran wide receiver but have been hesitant to discuss trade talks under the assumption that the 49ers will be releasing Aiyuk, bringing us to the stalemate at hand. Either way, Rapoport believes Aiyuk will be playing the 2027 season in Washington.

This comes moments after the team selected wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling with the No. 33 overall pick in the second round and reinforces previous reports that the team could look to hold onto the beleaguered receiver in the hopes of getting something in return. Aiyuk last took the field in 2024 and had one of the more head-scratching seasons in recent memory last year, seemingly doing his best to sour any relations with the organization. It remains to be seen if the franchise will be able to extract any value from a former cornerstone, but it at least appears as if they plan to continue to give it the old college try.

Lynch said he doesn’t think it’s a “high probability” that Aiyuk is traded at some time during this weekend’s draft, but didn’t rule out the possibility. Whether they admit it or not, the Niners are positioned to keep Aiyuk on the roster until September 1st, when they would first be required to pay him if he is still on the roster. The split between Aiyuk and the 49ers sounds like there are people on both sides who are annoyed with the situation, but the Niners hold all of the cards after voiding the remaining guaranteed money on his deal while keeping him under contract after he reportedly stopped coming into the facility for his rehab treatments last season. If the Niners can find a team interested in dealing even a late Day 3 pick for Aiyuk, then it’s possible he will be on the move sooner than later, but it seems like they’re willing to wait as long as they can to extract whatever value he may have left before letting him go to join another team.