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Brandon Aiyuk\u2019s run with the San Francisco 49ers appears to be nearing its end, with the team already in the offseason. After not playing during the 2025 NFL season, Aiyuk is expected to continue his career with a different organization, at least that\u2019s what many would expect.<\/p>\n
That reality puts pressure on the 49ers to decide how and when to move forward. ESPN\u2019s Nick Wagoner noted in an article published on Jan. 21 that Aiyuk\u2019s future guarantees have been voided. However, releasing the wide receiver this offseason would still result in nearly $30 million in dead money against the salary cap.<\/p>\n
San Francisco would have another option by waiting until after June 1, spreading the dead cap hit into $13.325 million in 2026 and $21.247 million in 2027. Those same figures would apply in a trade, though a trade cannot be designated post-June 1 and would require Aiyuk to have stayed on the roster through the summer.<\/p>\n
Nonetheless, On SI\u2019s 49ers beat reporter, Grant Cohn, questions whether Aiyuk wants to play football anymore.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople keep saying Brandon Aiyuk quit on the 49ers this year and he did,\u201d Cohn said in a video published on Jan. 23 on his YouTube channel. But doesn\u2019t it seem like he also quit football entirely forever? I mean, isn\u2019t he moving like a guy who doesn\u2019t really expect to play another snap in his career? Is he trying to endear himself to other teams when he posts videos speeding past Levi\u2019s Stadium? Who would want him at this point after everything that\u2019s transpired?\u201d<\/p>\n
Does 49ers\u2019 Brandon Aiyuk Have Any Suitors?<\/p>\n
Moreover, Cohn noted that potential landing spots for Aiyuk appear to be drying up, as he believes the Washington Commanders and Pittsburgh Steelers, two teams Aiyuk was linked to in the past, might not have interest in him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Commanders already have Deebo Samuel and have filled that spot,\u201d Cohn added. \u201cPittsburgh, Mike Tomlin isn\u2019t there anymore. Those were the two places that Brandon Aiyuk seemed like he wanted to play instead of the 49ers. So, those aren\u2019t options. Seems to me like he\u2019s moving like a guy who has $50 million and doesn\u2019t want to play football anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Bills Seen as Ideal Landing Spot for Brandon Aiyuk<\/p>\n
Nonetheless, this is the NFL, and teams are willing to take a flyer on a player as long as he\u2019s producing while filling a team weakness. CBS Sports\u2019 Tyler Sullivan recently listed potential landing spots for Aiyuk and one team that can use him is the Buffalo Bills.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were not able to get it done [this season] in my opinion because of the lackluster wide receiver room,\u201d Sullivan said on a Jan. 21 appearance on CBS Sports HQ. \u201c\u2026 You need somebody like Brandon Aiyuk at least [who] has that All-Pro caliber talent. Obviously, he\u2019s coming off the injury and this tumultuous tenure with the 49ers, but if he arrived in Buffalo, he would be the best wide receiver they\u2019ve had since Stefon Diggs.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou look back to this season, Josh Allen was throwing to guys like Brandin Cooks, who arrived in the middle of the year, late October, November range. That\u2019s not going to cut it if you\u2019re Josh Allen trying to contend for a Super Bowl. Brandon Aiyuk does fit that billing of a No. 1 wide receiver when his head\u2019s on straight, when he\u2019s fully healthy.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Brandon Aiyuk\u2019s run with the San Francisco 49ers appears to be nearing its end, with the team already in the offseason. After not playing during the 2025… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":144785,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-144784","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"\n