Brandon Aiyuk Calls Out Haters, 49ers in Bold IG Video Amid Commanders Trade Rumors

Brandon Aiyuk has earned about $48.5 million for playing just 7 games in two years with the 49ers and now wants out of the team so that he can join the Commanders.

Brandon Aiyuk Calls Out Haters, 49ers in Bold IG Video Amid Commanders Trade Rumors

Brandon Aiyuk (Image via IMAGO/X)

Brandon Aiyuk continues to fuel his exit from the San Francisco 49ers. In a video clip recently uploaded on social media, Aiyuk hints at his impending future.

Aiyuk uses various metaphors, “toy, the Kid, the other” to describe his situation.

This kid, he got this one toy, but he don’t really know how to use it correctly. So somebody else [is] about to pick it up and play with it, and they’re like, ‘Oh yeah, this [expletive].’ And they’re like ‘Wait, wait, wait, hold on, that’s my toy.’

Brandon Aiyuk says in the clip

If the kid here means the San Francisco 49ers, then it’s safe to assume that the toy is Aiyuk himself. Basically, Aiyuk is implying that the Niners don’t know how to better use his skills as a receiver.

However, that’s not even the punchline. Aiyuk goes on to say, “Man, stop running from the belt. The belt coming… The truth is, they scared.”

“Stop running from the belt” can only mean that the Niners are trying to avoid the financial consequences they have to suffer by releasing the 28-year-old. Aiyuk is currently on a $30 million AAV contract. He played seven games in 2024 before suffering a season-ending ACL tear.

Fast forward to 2025, he refused to show up for practice and did not play a single game that season. The Niners voided more than $26 million in future guarantees. According to NFL.com, if the 49ers cut Aiyuk now (post June 1), they will only take off $8.3 million in dead money and save $6.3 million in cap space.

By “they scared,” Aiyuk is sending a message to Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch that if they release him now, he will sign with the Washington Commanders.

Aiyuk campaigned to join the Commanders back in 2024, a year after registering 1342 yards and 7 touchdowns on 75 receptions. He wants to play with his former Arizona State quarterback Jayden Daniels, whom the Commanders drafted second overall that year. He even attended an interview with Daniels to speed up the process. His actions forced the Niners to give him a four-year contract.

Two years later, the Niners have paid him approximately $48.7 million for appearing in seven games.

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Expert gives his take on Brandon Aiuyk’s bid to sign with the Commanders

Aiyuk played four years of college football. Two years with Sierra College and the final two years with the Arizona State Sun Devils.

Brandon Aiyuk Calls Out Haters, 49ers in Bold IG Video Amid Commanders Trade Rumors
Brandon Aiyuk (Image via IMAGO)

During his final year of college in 2019, Aiyuk had the chance to play with Daniels. That year, he caught 65 passes for 1192 yards and scored 8 touchdowns. Daniels stayed in Arizona for two more years before transferring to LSU, where he won a Heisman Trophy.

Aiyuk clearly sees Daniels as an elite quarterback even though he’s coming off a serious elbow injury that ended his second year in the league after just seven games.

However, Matt Maiocco of 49ers media isn’t convinced that the Commanders would agree to take Aiyuk, given his unruly past couple of years.

He’s putting it out there, at least, that he wants to play for the Washington Commanders. The question is, does it make sense for the Commanders to go down that road? And even if it did, and they did sign him, I don’t think it’s a certainty that he is ready to play football, win a roster spot.

Maiocco said on the “49ers Talk” podcast

The Commanders have a stacked wide receiver room, starting with Terry McLaurin, Dyami Brown, Luke McCaffrey, Van Jefferson, and Jacoby Jones. They have a generous cap space of approximately between $44 million and $80 million. So they can pay Aiyuk if they wish to.

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