Brandon Aiyuk trade talks stall as 49ers wait for release
brandon aiyuk has not been traded, and NFL teams are waiting for the 49ers to release him before making a move in 2026. That pause is tied to his contract, which would hand a new team his $27 million salary if San Francisco dealt him first.
John Lynch and Brandon Aiyuk
John Lynch put the situation in plain terms after the 2026 NFL Draft, saying, "We're available. Give us a call," as the 49ers kept Aiyuk on the roster. San Francisco does not appear eager to rush him out, even though 's Dan Graziano said Tuesday that Aiyuk will likely be released before the 2026 season.
The hold-up is financial. A team that trades for Aiyuk before a release would inherit the $27 million he is scheduled to earn in 2026, while a post-release signing would cost far less. Graziano wrote that the 49ers do not need to cut him until it is time for him to get paid, and that teams have decided they can wait because the relationship is broken.
49ers Contract Pressure
The friction dates back to the four-year, $120 million extension Aiyuk signed, which reportedly led to buyer's remorse inside the organization. The 49ers voided the remaining guarantees in his deal last year, and Aiyuk suffered ACL and MCL injuries during the 2024 season before never returning to the field for San Francisco in 2025.
's Adam Schefter previously reported that teams and the 49ers have not been able to speak with Aiyuk about his interest in a trade or his contract situation. That leaves clubs waiting on San Francisco's next move rather than spending draft capital on a player they could sign later for less.
Commanders Waiting Game
Graziano said, "Knowing the relationship is broken and that the Niners will almost certainly cut Aiyuk before having to pay his Week 1 salary, teams have decided they can afford to wait," and added, "The Niners don't need to cut him until it's time for him to get paid, so they can wait, too, and see whether a team ultimately decides to send them a draft pick for Aiyuk." He also said, "I do believe he will be on a different team in 2026, and most people have been assuming that team would be the Commanders."
For now, the market is frozen around one issue: who pays the bill. If San Francisco keeps Aiyuk past the point when his Week 1 salary comes due, the 49ers control the timing. If they release him first, the teams circling him can move without taking on the full 2026 cost.
