Brandon Aiyuk isn’t holding back, folks, because the 49ers wide receiver just kept tearing into the NFL Players’ Association on his Instagram story this Saturday, claiming they’re trying to start a “smear campaign to try and tarnish [Aiyuk’s] NIL.” Yeah, you read that right. He’s been blasting the NFLPA on social media all offseason long, and this latest post just kicks the drama up another notch.
The Social Media Fallout and a Voided Contract
This whole saga isn’t new. Aiyuk has been publicly calling out the NFLPA for a while now, all while he’s trying to get the 49ers to release him. He even went after his former agent, Ryan Williams, who was handling his contract negotiations. And get this: Williams is apparently longtime friends with 49ers general manager John Lynch. Talk about a tangled web, right? Aiyuk is actually signed with the 49ers through the 2028 season, but the team pulled a fast one last year and voided a massive $27 million in his 2026 guarantees. Ouch. Aiyuk says the players’ union asked him if he wanted to appeal that decision. His response? He told them he planned to play for the Washington Commanders instead. You can practically hear the mic drop.
Commanders on the Sidelines, 49ers Counting Cap Space
So, what about those Commanders? The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala reported back in June that Washington *had* some interest in Aiyuk earlier in the offseason. But here’s the kicker: they weren’t considering a deal for him on his current contract. Jhabvala also said Aiyuk’s social media activity since then has “created worry.” She’s now reporting that the Commanders would *only* even think about pursuing Aiyuk if the 49ers release him first, and if Washington feels “confident that he’s fit, physically and emotionally.” Remember, Aiyuk’s last game was in the 2024 season, when he suffered a season-ending torn ACL. So, health is a major question mark. David Lombardi of the San Francisco Standard points out that the 49ers actually get cap benefits by keeping Aiyuk on the roster because they can prorate a huge chunk of his salary. With basically no trade interest in him, that financial angle could make the 49ers really hesitant to just let him walk this offseason.
This whole thing is a messy situation for Aiyuk and the 49ers. With the season approaching, we’re all left watching his Instagram stories, wondering when, or if, this contract standoff is finally going to get resolved.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Leave a Reply