The San Francisco 49ers have been in the news all offseason, but for all the wrong reasons, as wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has been at war with the franchise over its decision to void his contract guarantees last offseason.
Aiyuk’s behavior has only grown more erratic over the past month as the 49ers have refused to release or trade him. But one analyst believes the team is also to blame for the drawn-out drama and should have cut ties with him long ago.
Colin Cowherd Urges 49ers to Find a Solution to Brandon Aiyuk Drama
Aiyuk’s relationship with the 49ers began deteriorating not long after he signed a four-year, $120 million extension in 2024. After playing just seven games, he suffered tears to his ACL and MCL.
While injuries are part of the game, things took a turn during his rehabilitation. NFL rules require injured players to remain in regular communication with team medical staff. Aiyuk allegedly failed to meet those obligations, went AWOL from the 49ers’ facilities, and missed subsequent rehabilitation sessions.
As a result of the alleged contract default, San Francisco voided Aiyuk’s remaining guaranteed money last offseason. The team later placed him on the reserve/left squad list on Dec. 13, 2025, after he continued to remain unreachable during the season.
With the All-Pro receiver’s behavior becoming increasingly toxic and self-destructive over the past month, NFL analyst Colin Cowherd argues it’s high time the 49ers simply cut him and put an end to the unnecessary drama.
“I’ve been saying this on the Niners for years: cut bait, move on,” Cowherd said on “The Herd With Colin Cowherd.” “The Rams moved on from great players like Jalen Ramsey, Todd Gurley, and Cooper Kupp. The Rams do a much better job at moving on from injured players or players with drama.
“The Niners either coddle or keep them in-house. That’s why the 49ers roster has become old, dramatic, brittle, and expensive. Brandon Aiyuk goes on Instagram and basically blows up any opportunity to play for a tremendous young quarterback, Jayden Daniels. The Commanders dodged a bullet here. That stuff is just bad, and I wish the Niners would have moved on years ago.”
San Francisco would have to absorb a massive $33.5 million dead-cap hit if it were to cut Aiyuk, which is the obvious reason the team has shied away from releasing him. But given how the situation has unfolded and the potential impact on the locker room, many, including Cowherd, believe the 49ers should take the financial hit and move on.
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The 49ers selected Aiyuk in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, and he quickly established himself as one of the team’s top offensive weapons. Before suffering his knee injuries in 2024, he recorded 294 receptions for 4,305 yards and 27 total touchdowns in 69 games.
But with his relationship with the 49ers now all but over, Aiyuk spent the past month trying to force a move to the Washington Commanders. That effort spectacularly backfired after he took shots at Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels. Daniels, Aiyuk’s former college teammate, has since unfollowed him on social media and expressed his disappointment with a post of own (showing NBA legend Kevin Durant making the thumbs-down motion).
Aiyuk may still have the talent to play at a high level in the NFL, but his recent behavior is only scaring teams away. With the bridge to Washington seemingly burned, major questions now surround his future.
For the time being, however, he remains adamant on taking shots at the 49ers, and the sooner the franchise finds a resolution, the better it will be for both the team and its locker room.
