Brandon Aiyuk remains on San Francisco’s roster despite the 49ers signaling for months that they intend to move on. Some have called it unfair, arguing the team is holding a disgruntled receiver hostage. However, NFL legend Richard Sherman isn’t buying that framing.
Richard Sherman Defends the 49ers’ Approach to Brandon Aiyuk
Sherman’s argument centers on the contract itself. San Francisco signed Aiyuk to a four-year, $120 million extension in late August 2024 after a summer-long standoff that included a trade request and a nearly completed deal to the Pittsburgh Steelers. That relationship soured almost immediately.
Sherman, who played three seasons for the 49ers, defended San Francisco in a segment on “The Richard Sherman Podcast.”
“The Brandon Aiyuk situation is interesting too, ” Sherman said. “I see a lot of people commenting on that, the 49ers are holding him hostage, and it’s unfair, and they’re doing wrong by him, and… I don’t think so. I think the opposite.”
Aiyuk tore his ACL, MCL, and meniscus in Week 7 of the 2024 NFL season against the Kansas City Chiefs and hasn’t played since. The 49ers voided $27 million in 2026 guarantees last July after the wide receiver reportedly stopped attending meetings and team activities during his rehab.
“What would Brandon Aiyuk fetch in free agency right now?” Sherman asked. “Coming off a major injury? No tape for this season. Whatever you feel about reputation with the San Francisco 49ers or the league, etc., etc. His contract right now is for almost $30 million a year. If they cut him, the contract’s torn up, thrown away, and somebody’s going to re-sign him to a one-year, prove-it kind of deal.”
That’s the reality Aiyuk faces. If San Francisco releases him outright, he’d likely sign for a cheap prove-it deal. If the 49ers trade him, the acquiring team inherits his existing contract.
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“If you can get a seventh-round pick and you’re San Francisco 49ers, that works in your best business interests,” Sherman added. “And it also works in Brandon Aiyuk’s best business interests because he gets paid what he would have gotten paid last year for the San Francisco 49ers.”
In his last fully healthy season in 2023, Aiyuk finished with 75 catches for 1,342 yards and 7 touchdowns in 16 games. He averaged a career-high 17.9 yards per reception and, according to PFSN’s WR Impact Metric, ranked as the fourth-best receiver in the league.
Why Finding a Trade Partner for Aiyuk Remains Unlikely
The problem is that no team wants to trade for Aiyuk on his current contract. Reports indicate Aiyuk has a “de facto no-trade clause” because any acquiring team would need him to agree to reworked terms.
His 2026 cap hit is nearly $15 million, with the cap hit ballooning to over $41 million in subsequent years. For a receiver who hasn’t played since October 2024, that’s a significant gamble.
The Commanders remain the most logical landing spot given Aiyuk’s relationship with Jayden Daniels from their days at Arizona State. But multiple team sources told ESPN they won’t trade for him and would only consider a one-year, prove-it deal if San Francisco releases him.
The 49ers aren’t waiting around for Aiyuk as they signed Mike Evans to a three-year deal and added Christian Kirk on a one-year contract. San Francisco holds leverage here, even if the return is minimal. The team would rather extract a late-round pick than simply cut Aiyuk and watch a rival sign him for nothing.
