Keim: Diggs ‘a player of interest’ for Commanders

In addition to Daniels, the Commanders are also expected to play Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs, giving us the first look at the team’s revamped passing game under new offensive coordinator David Blough, with most of its starters on the field. We wouldn’t expect Daniels and company to play more than a series or two, but this will be Daniels’ first game since Week 14 of last season.

Breer adds that third-year Commanders WR Luke McCaffrey has “taken another step.” Perhaps this receiving corps is slightly better than one may have thought a few months ago. Both players are behind WR Terry McLaurin and WR Stefon Diggs, who has “immediately stepped into a leadership role” on his new team, but receiving depth is a plus for QB Jayden Daniels.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter later added that the deal is worth “up to” $12 million over one year. Diggs has been tied to the Commanders by local and national reporters for weeks. After seeing their lack of receiving weapons in training camp for a few days, GM Adam Peters finally pulled the trigger. Diggs will immediately slot in as the team’s No. 2 receiver, ahead of Antonio Williams and a cast of uninteresting veterans. The Pats limited Diggs to a 68 percent route rate last year, but he still managed to hit 1,000 yards via impressive efficiency marks. With Terry McLaurin operating as the Commanders’ No. 1 receiver, Diggs is unlikely to hit four digits again, but he should still offer fantasy managers usable FLEX numbers on a weekly basis.

The opportunity to play with Jayden Daniels and spend a season playing in front of his hometown could be enough to entice Diggs, a DMV native, to join the Commanders. There are reportedly four other teams that have also expressed interest in the 32-year-old receiver, but a signing does not appear imminent at this time. Diggs is nearly two years removed from the torn ACL that ended his 2024 season, and he still managed to post an 85-1,013-4 line in his lone season with the Patriots while appearing on just 55 percent of the team’s offensive snaps. We would expect the veteran receiver to find a new home sooner than later, especially with all teams set to being training camp later this week.

For those who continue to follow the Niners/Aiyuk saga, this is no surprise. Aiyuk’s designation means he does not count against the 49ers’ 90-man roster for camp, and the designation requires him to apply to the NFL for reinstatement before he can be released or traded. Aiyuk has been active on his Instagram account, and appears to be trying to manifest a move to the Commanders to play with long-time friend and former college teammate Jayden Daniels, but the ball is ultimately in his court to take the steps necessary for anything to be facilitated. It was reported earlier this month by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that he “doesn’t think” the Commanders would be interested in Aiyuk if he were to come available. Aiyuk last played in 2024, posting a 25-374-0 line in seven games before suffering a torn ACL in Week 7.

Well, let’s see if we can get a few Instagram posts off that change minds, Brandon. Aiyuk and the 49ers are at an impasse and he has not posted on his social accounts that he’s not “doing business” with the 49ers at this time, and unless he reports to the 49ers they can’t actually release him anyway. This situation has turned from a fait accompli that he’d eventually join the Commanders into something that surely has them second-guessing things, as reported by Nicki Jhavala of The Athletic earlier last month.

Fowler said a team could sign Diggs ahead of training camp, but didn’t do us the courtesy of naming any of those teams beyond the Commanders. He also pointed at the Ravens as a team that attacks late free agency often. Diggs is one of several unsigned receivers still waiting for a home as we near the start of training camp, and there’s a belief in his camp that he’ll be even better this year now that he’s shed a snap count he was on while managing 2024’s torn ACL recovery.

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.