San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has been publicly angling for a move to the Washington Commanders in an NFL offseason stalemate with the 49ers. The polarizing Aiyuk has not been subtle in his machinations, releasing several clips calling out the 49ers and even wearing the Commanders’ merchandise.
Commanders Linked To Star Free Agent Amid Brandon Aiyuk Drama
Over the last weekend, Aiyuk further revealed that he had fired his agent, Ryan Williams, because of his affiliation with 49ers general manager John Lynch. Even as the Aiyuk drama unfolds in San Francisco, Bleacher Report analyst Moe Moton linked free agent Stefon Diggs with a move to the Commanders in his place.
“The Washington Commanders selected Antonio Williams to address a need at wide receiver. Yet they can still add veteran insurance in case he has a quiet rookie campaign,” Moton wrote. “Brandon Aiyuk has released a series of videos on social media, lambasting his current team, the San Francisco 49ers, and pushing to be associated with the Commanders.”
“Washington should look elsewhere for receiver help, someone who’s a free agent and has been on the field over the last year,” he added. “Entering his age-32 season, Stefon Diggs can be a reliable No. 2 wideout… Diggs could sign a homecoming contract with the Commanders in the coming weeks.”
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Last season, Diggs showed off a bit of his brilliance, catching 85 passes for 1,013 yards, resulting in four touchdowns for the New England Patriots, who reached Super Bowl LX. The wide receiver’s 83.3% catch rate also represented a career-high, signalling his viability as a genuine option for a Super Bowl-contending team.
In an interview with “FOX 5” on Jun. 18, Diggs revealed his wish to play with the Commanders.
“I never realized how many fans there was back home until I was a free agent and people are like, ‘Are you going to come back home?’ Especially when they see me back. It’s a lot of hopes. We’re kind of figuring out, working through some things,” Diggs said.
“I did have a small piece of me like, damn, it would be great to come home and play and play in front of the fans I used to play in front of as a young adolescent in college and just kind of doing something for the city. That definitely would be a moment. Hopefully, things do work out. We’ll see how it goes, but I’m kind of open right now.”
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After signing a three-year deal with the Patriots last year, the four-time Pro Bowler was released by the team in March this year amid charges of felony strangulation, assault and battery. He was later found not guilty of the charges in Norfolk County District Court and is now ready to join a new team.
For the Commanders, adding a reliable high-production player like Diggs is crucial to help quarterback Jayden Daniels rediscover his form from his rookie season.
Moreover, Diggs, who ranked #4 on PFSN’s WR Impact Rankings last season, can hit the ground running upon signing with the team, unlike Aiyuk, who is expected to be rusty and will need months to return to his usual level.
