{"id":870983,"date":"2026-04-21T04:12:35","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T04:12:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/870983\/"},"modified":"2026-04-21T04:12:35","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T04:12:35","slug":"commanders-get-good-brandon-aiyuk-news-amid-trade-chatter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/870983\/","title":{"rendered":"Commanders Get Good Brandon Aiyuk News Amid Trade Chatter"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"San\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

San Francisco 49ers’ wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk on the field before kickoff against the Arizona Cardinals<\/p>\n

The Washington Commanders<\/a> need to make more upgrades to the roster than the first two days of the upcoming NFL<\/a> draft will allow, and the franchise got some reasonable news in that regard Monday.<\/p>\n

Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team reported comments made by San Francisco 49ers<\/a> general manager John Lynch<\/a> on the topic of recent All-Pro pass-catcher Brandon Aiyuk<\/a> and his team\u2019s attempts to trade the wide receiver ahead of the draft.<\/p>\n

#49ers<\/a> GM John Lynch said he\u2019s had trade discussions with teams on WR Brandon Aiyuk but acknowledged it\u2019s not a high probability they find a taker.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll see it through the draft\u2014if something happens, great; if not, we\u2019ll re-evaluate after.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lynch confirmed again that Aiyuk <\/p>\n

\u201c#49ers GM John Lynch said he\u2019s had trade discussions with teams on WR Brandon Aiyuk but acknowledged it\u2019s not a high probability they find a taker. \u2018We\u2019ll see it through the draft \u2014 if something happens, great. If not, we\u2019ll re-evaluate after,’\u201d Meirov wrote, quoting Lynch<\/a>. \u201cLynch confirmed again that Aiyuk has more than likely played his final snap with the organization.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brandon Aiyuk Likely to Become Free Agent if 49ers Can\u2019t Find Trade\"Brandon<\/p>\n

GettySan Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.<\/p>\n

That equates to good news for the Commanders because if the Niners end up releasing Aiyuk, Washington can offer him a soft landing spot on a value deal.<\/p>\n

Spotrac projects Aiyuk\u2019s market value at just over $12 million<\/a> on a one-year contract after the wideout missed the last season and a half due to a serious knee injury and subsequent fallout with the 49ers over the rehabilitation process.<\/p>\n

That drama led the team to cancel Aiyuk\u2019s guaranteed money in 2026. Now the Niners are looking for a trade partner so they can get something back in exchange for the wide receiver as he heads into his age-28 campaign.<\/p>\n

A second-team All-Pro in 2023, Aiyuk has amassed 294 catches for 4,305 yards and 25 TDs<\/a> across 69 career games (67 starts).<\/p>\n

Commanders Want Ohio State Linebacker Sonny Styles in NFL Draft\"Ohio<\/p>\n

GettyOhio State linebacker Sonny Styles.<\/p>\n

Assuming the 49ers don\u2019t find a trade for Aiyuk before, during or relatively soon after the draft, and Washington can secure him in free agency, that would address the team\u2019s biggest skill-position need.<\/p>\n

Aiyuk would not necessarily be a longterm solution in Washington, as poor play would probably lead to a split following the 2026 season, while high-level performance might result in free agency that carries him elsewhere.<\/p>\n

But there is a chance Aiyuk could end up in the NFC East Division longterm. And even if he doesn\u2019t, he can help Washington buy time to rebuild what was the oldest roster in the league entering the 2025 campaign.<\/p>\n

The Commanders hold just the No. 7 and 71 picks<\/a> in Rounds 1 and 3, respectively, on the first two days of the draft. And as far as who Washington prefers to draft first, Todd McShay of The Ringer reported Monday there is little doubt.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf Sonny Styles<\/a> is sitting there for the Washington Commanders, I\u2019m told on pretty damn good authority \u2014 Dan Quinn<\/a>, that\u2019s his guy,\u201d\u00a0McShay said<\/a>. \u201cI actually believe that\u2019s if [Notre Dame running back] Jeremiah Love<\/a> were on the board, too. That\u2019s what I\u2019m hearing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Should some team select the Ohio State linebacker by the time Washington picks at No. 7, the Commanders could land on a rookie wideout to pair with Terry McLaurin<\/a>.\u00a0But the team also has considerable need in the secondary, namely at cornerback, and LSU DB Mansoor Delane may be available.<\/p>\n

Love is also a viable option if he is on the board and Styles is not.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMax Dible<\/a> covers the NFL, NBA and MLB for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns. He covered local and statewide news as a reporter for West Hawaii Today and served as news director for BigIslandNow.com and Pacific Media Group’s family of Big Island radio stations before joining Heavy. More about Max Dible<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n

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