Overview
- General manager John Lynch said in January that Aiyuk has likely played his last snap for the 49ers.
- The team’s delay is financial: a post–June 1 move would split roughly $34.6 million of dead money over 2026–27, and the club can wait until Sept. 1 without owing more cash as an option bonus of about $24.9 million comes due then.
- Aiyuk’s contract is viewed as difficult to acquire, with 2027–28 base salaries near $27.2 million and $29.15 million, leading ESPN’s Nick Wagoner to doubt a trade will materialize without a rework Aiyuk could decline.
- Spotrac’s Mike Ginnitti predicts a June 2 release and expects any next deal to be a short, lower-cost prove-it contract, while Washington is frequently mentioned as a possible destination based on existing ties.
- George Kittle described Aiyuk as largely absent from the locker room during rehab last season, and the receiver has not played since his 2024 ACL/MCL tear.