Brandon Aiyuk has spent months making his preference for the Washington Commanders as obvious as possible, and the latest move might be his most direct yet. The San Francisco 49ers wide receiver posted a picture of himself wearing a Commanders hat on social media, sparking another wave of reactions from fans and analysts who have watched this saga drag on for a while now.
Brandon Aiyuk Sends Another Big Message to 49ers
Aiyuk has been linked to Washington for over two years now, dating back to his 2024 contract dispute when he named the Commanders as a preferred destination. The connection runs through quarterback Jayden Daniels, his former teammate at Arizona State.
Earlier this month, Aiyuk unfollowed nearly everyone on Instagram, leaving just three accounts: his wife, Daniels, and the Commanders.
The holdup has never been about where Aiyuk wants to go; San Francisco won’t release him because they are hoping to recoup draft capital in a trade. Commanders general manager Adam Peters, who spent years in the 49ers’ front office, is reportedly unwilling to send over even a late-round pick, knowing that San Francisco will eventually have no choice but to cut the 28-year-old.
Here’s how the NFL world reacted to Aiyuk’s photos of him wearing a Commanders hat, which is a direct message to the 49ers.
Its time.
— Rondo Shai Gil Alexander (@JankyRondo) June 6, 2026
“Gig is up! Release him,” one account wrote on X.
“I can’t wait for him to be off my team,” wrote Trev, a 49ers fan.
He’s so mad the FO called the police on him speeding 😂
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) June 6, 2026
“This is just getting out of hand. #FreeAiyuk,” David OConnell added.
“If you don’t think this happens, then idk what to tell you lol,” wrote Commanders analyst Josh Taylor, hinting at Aiyuk’s inevitable move to Washington.
Having a tough time figuring out what Brandon Aiyuk is trying to say with this picture. Could be a comment on society in general. pic.twitter.com/bzCU4MguUO
— Grant Cohn (@grantcohn) June 6, 2026
Aiyuk didn’t play a single snap in 2025, and the 49ers voided all of his guaranteed salary by citing concerns about his recovery process and missed rehab after his major knee injuries. With no guaranteed money remaining on his deal, the contract that once made him one of the highest-paid receivers in football has become a shell of its original structure.
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Before the injury, Aiyuk was one of the most productive receivers in the league. He recorded a career-high 1,342 receiving yards in 2023, earning second-team All-Pro honors. According to PFSN’s WR Impact Metric, he posted an impact score of 92.7 that year and ranked fourth in the league.
A healthy Aiyuk, paired with Daniels and Terry McLaurin, would give Washington one of the more dangerous passing attacks in the NFC, which is why the Commanders are not abandoning their interest in him despite all the concerns.
Daniels has already proven himself as a franchise quarterback, and adding a proven playmaker on the perimeter addresses a need the Commanders tried to fill through the draft by taking Clemson’s Antonio Williams in the third round. Aiyuk, if his knee cooperates, is a different caliber of talent.
Both sides appear to be waiting each other out, and at some point, the 49ers will have to accept that no trade is coming. The sooner all parties move on, the sooner Aiyuk can get into the Commanders’ building and prepare for the season.
