The Commanders could use a wide receiver after trading Jahan Dotson to the Eagles. Brandon Aiyuk still hasn’t agreed to an extension with the 49ers. Is there a chance Washington and San Francisco could strike a deal?
It’s been the summer of Aiyuk, as the 49ers star requested a trade in July after a months-long contract dispute with the team that drafted him in the first round four years ago. While San Francisco initially made it clear Aiyuk wasn’t available, that stance softened as training camp persisted.
The 49ers reportedly entered into trade negotiations with a handful of teams, including the Steelers and Patriots, while still holding out hope for a long-term extension. The Patriots are out, while the Steelers are in a holding pattern as an extension remains on the table. The Commanders could now loom as a potential threat if contract talks fall apart.
Here’s what you need to know about what’s real and what’s not about a potential deal that would send Aiyuk to Washington.
MORE: Why did the Commanders trade Jahan Dotson?
Could the Commanders acquire Brandon Aiyuk?
There is no indication the Commanders traded Dotson with the intent of adding Aiyuk, but there are a few reasons to believe a trade isn’t out of the question.
The Commanders’ wide receiver depth chart is remarkably thin behind Terry McLaurin, with Olamide Zaccheaus and Dyami Brown among the top options for Jayden Daniels. That doesn’t mean a standout like Aiyuk has to be added to the mix, but it does make it quite possible that Washington feels the need to add some kind of help to the mix.
The return for Dotson also saddles the Commanders with more assets for a potential Aiyuk deal, as they landed a third-round pick and two seventh-round picks while sending a fifth-round pick to the Eagles. A third-round pick wouldn’t be the headliner of a deal, but it could be a key piece of an offer to the 49ers.
An Aiyuk trade will remain a possibility unless he signs an extension with the 49ers. While reports have indicated the team was still trying to work out a long-term deal with Aiyuk, it wouldn’t be surprising to see teams keep calling until pen hits paper.
Aiyuk also has an established connection with Jayden Daniels, as they played together at Arizona State for one season. While that sounds unlikely considering they entered the NFL four years apart, it’s a closer connection than Aiyuk might have with Russell Wilson in Pittsburgh or Deshaun Watson in Cleveland, for example.
Here’s a closer look at the connection between Daniels and Aiyuk.
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When were Brandon Aiyuk and Jayden Daniels teammates at Arizona State?
Aiyuk caught passes from Daniels when the quarterback was a freshman at Arizona State in 2019. The senior broke out with 1,192 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 18.3 yards per catch and establishing himself as a legitimate first-round NFL Draft prospect.
Arizona State finished 8-5 in Herm Edwards’ second season, and Daniels’ impressive play was a major reason for that success. The freshman threw for 2,943 yards, 17 touchdowns, and two interceptions, adding another 355 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.
Daniels needed time to develop his rushing ability, as he became more of a force on the ground after transferring to LSU, but his connection with Aiyuk in 2019 was the first sign that his potential was special.
With plenty of salary cap room projected for 2025 and a serious need at the wide receiver position, it could make plenty of sense for the Commanders to reunite Aiyuk and Daniels, giving the rookie a layer of familiarity as he starts his NFL career.
MORE: Ron Rivera’s draft failures mount as Jahan Dotson exits Washington
Commanders WR depth chart
| Rank | WR |
| 1 | Terry McLaurin |
| 2 | Olamide Zaccheaus |
| 3 | Dyami Brown |
| 4 | Jamison Crowder |
| 5 | Luke McCaffrey |
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McLaurin remains the clear No. 1 receiver in Washington, but the search for a legitimate No. 2 continues. Dotson’s fit with the new regime evidently wasn’t ideal, so who could emerge as No. 2 if Aiyuk isn’t added?
Zaccheaus started his career playing under Dan Quinn in Atlanta, and he would emerge with a 500-yard season under Arthur Smuth in 2022 before joining the Eagles in 2023. While he doesn’t have gaudy numbers by any means, Zaccheaus is averaging 14.3 yards per catch over five seasons and appears to be poised for a downfield role in Washington.
Brown has yet to hit the 200-yard mark in three seasons since he was drafted out of North Carolina, while Crowder and McCaffrey likely aren’t suited for a premier role in 2024. Crowder is a pure slot receiver, while McCaffrey was the 100th pick out of Rice in April and might need more time before he’s ready to be a starter alongside McLaurin.
With an aging Zach Ertz leading the tight end room, Daniels could be starved for high-end receiving weapons in his rookie season if no Aiyuk deal materializes.
