The San Francisco 49ers are keen on retaining Brandon Aiyuk, and the All-Pro wide receiver would prefer to stay in the Bay Area. However, they haven’t made much progress on a long-term contract, and Aiyuk has hinted at a possible move, recently sharing footage of himself watching Washington Commanders practice film.
Aiyuk has mentioned the Commanders as a preferred destination if he and the 49ers cannot reach a new deal. Although he’s under contract with San Francisco through 2024 and the team has resisted trade inquiries, a trade might be considered if contract negotiations continue to stall.
Here are three potential trade proposals the Commanders could make for Aiyuk:
Proposal No. 1
**Commanders receive:** WR Brandon Aiyuk
**49ers receive:** 2025 first-round pick
Aiyuk’s value may slightly exceed a first-round pick; for instance, the Philadelphia Eagles traded a first- and third-round pick for A.J. Brown in 2022. Unlike Brown then, Aiyuk is coming off a career-best season. While the Commanders might not urgently need a receiver upgrade with Terry McLaurin on their roster, obtaining a first-round pick for Aiyuk could be a win for the 49ers, especially considering their leverage in contract talks.
Proposal No. 2
**Commanders receive:** WR Brandon Aiyuk
**49ers receive:** WR Dyami Brown, 2025 second-round pick, 2025 fourth-round pick
In this scenario, the 49ers miss out on a first-rounder but gain a high Day 2 selection and an additional fourth-round pick, totaling six picks in the first four rounds of the 2025 draft. While Dyami Brown hasn’t made a significant impact in his three NFL seasons, his blocking skills and deep speed could fit well in Kyle Shanahan’s offense, providing depth behind Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings, and rookie first-rounder Ricky Pearsall.
Proposal No. 3
**Broncos receive:** WR Jamison Crowder (Washington), 2025 third-round pick (Washington)
**Commanders receive:** WR Brandon Aiyuk (San Francisco)
**49ers receive:** WR Courtland Sutton (Denver), 2025 second-round pick (Washington)
This three-way trade shakes things up a bit. The Broncos are dealing with Courtland Sutton’s potential holdout over a contract dispute. Although Sean Payton might be reluctant to trade his top wideout, acquiring more resources to support rookie quarterback Bo Nix could be appealing. Jamison Crowder’s reliability could attract Payton, while San Francisco would get a proven downfield threat in Sutton and a second-round pick from Washington, making the deal beneficial for all parties.
These proposed deals offer different pathways for the 49ers to navigate Aiyuk’s contract situation while also considering the interests of the Commanders and Broncos.
