It’s no secret the Washington Commanders need to give quarterback Jayden Daniels more help in 2026. Last offseason, GM Adam Peters beefed up the offensive line, but didn’t do enough at wide receiver. Deebo Samuel was brought in to play a specific role, but injuries to others, including Terry McLaurin, forced the Commanders to lean more on Samuel in a traditional wide receiver role.

Samuel had a very good year in 2025. However, at 30 years old, Samuel will be a free agent next month. Peters mentioned in his postseason press conference about how Washington must get “younger and faster.”

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Daniels has a new offensive coordinator in 2026: former assistant quarterbacks coach David Blough. The two are close, and Blough is expected to build an offense around Daniels, blending some of what former OC Kliff Kingsbury did the last two years with Bears coach Ben Johnson’s offense. Blough played for Johnson before turning to coaching.

In an interview with Nate Tice of Football 301 at the Super Bowl, Daniels was asked if there was one type of weapon he’d like to see the Commanders acquire this offseason. While Daniels doesn’t usually reveal too much, he was clear this time.

“Yeah, there’s a couple of individuals that are out there,” Daniels said. “Maybe somebody from Arizona State in my past.” Tice interjected, “Lives on the West Coast,” to which Daniels replied, “Yes.”

Daniels never referred to this specific player by name.

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“There’s people like that out there, I don’t want to get into that too much. When that time comes, hopefully we can see those types of players.”

Daniels is clearly referring to San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. The two played one season together at Arizona State and are close. They’ve teased the idea of playing together since Daniels entered the NFL in 2024 and Aiyuk was in a contract standoff with the 49ers.

Aiyuk is under contract with San Francisco. However, GM John Lynch made it clear he will not return after Aiyuk, who was rehabbing from knee surgery, would not return the team’s calls or be examined by team doctors, leading the 49ers to void his 2026 guaranteed money.

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San Francisco is unlikely to find any takers for Aiyuk’s contract in a trade, which could lead to his release.

Daniels isn’t the only Commander with ties to Aiyuk. Peters was the 49ers’ assistant GM before arriving in Washington in 2024. He was in San Francisco’s front office for Aiyuk’s first four NFL seasons and knows him well.

The Commanders need a starting receiver opposite McLaurin, and it sounds like Aiyuk will be available. While it sounds like a perfect match, Aiyuk would need to prove he’s healthy first.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels wants Brandon Aiyuk in 2026