Ex-GM Warns Commanders Against Signing Brandon Aiyuk Amid His Social Media Rants, Recalls Arizona State Days

WR Brandon Aiyuk has a history of creating issues for the team he plays for.

Ex-GM Warns Commanders Against Signing Brandon Aiyuk Amid His Social Media Rants, Recalls Arizona State Days

Brandon Aiyuk (Image via IMAGO)

A former Washington Commanders executive just cautioned the NFC team against acquiring wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. He wants the Commanders to drop the idea of pairing Aiyuk with quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Scot McCloughan served as the Washington football club’s general manager from 2015 to 2016, when it was still called the Redskins. A key part of a GM’s job profile is discovering the best college talent. That’s when he came across Aiyuk, who, after two seasons of JUCO football, joined Arizona State University to play for the Sun Devils.

McCloughan on the Kevin Sheehan Show recalled ASU head coach Herm Edwards facing difficulties with Aiyuk’s attitude.

Herm Edwards was the coach, and he said, ‘Listen, [Aiyuk’s] a wildcard. We don’t know if he’s going to show up. We don’t know if he’s gonna do anything, or he might come and have the best day of his career.

McCloughan revealed

Aiyuk is currently going through a similar phase. The 28-year-old is refusing to honor his four-year, $120 million contract and is demanding the San Francisco 49ers release him so he can sign with the Commanders and play with his former Sun Devils quarterback Jayden Daniels.

What he’s done to the 49ers is embarrassing. Embarrassing. What you’re getting in your building is going to be the same thing. There will be good days, but there’s gonna be bad days.

McCloughan said

Aiyuk is campaigning to become the Commanders’ new receiver. In June, he wore a Commanders hat and predicted they would win the Super Bowl.

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Aiyuk set career highs in 2023, catching 75 passes for 1342 yards and scoring 7 touchdowns. With his rookie deal ending, the Niners quickly locked him down for four additional years, agreeing to pay him $30 million each year.

Ex-49ers GM Warns Commanders Against Signing Brandon Aiyuk Amid His Social Media Rants, Recalls Arizona State Days
Brandon Aiyuk (Image via IMAGO)

In the ensuing year, Aiyuk appeared in seven games before suffering a season-ending ACL tear. Initially, he rehabbed at the 49ers’ facility, but later disappeared and did not report back to the club. For violating the terms of his contract, the Niners voided his 2026 guarantees.

Aiyuk lashed out at the organization for treating him like a modern-day slave by not paying him. However, former 49ers and Commanders’ safety Donte Whitner fired back at Aiyuk for creating this mess.

[Aiyuk’s] mouth wrote a check that his [expletive] cannot cash. He doesn’t have that $13-18M with the way that he’s been spending and the way that he’s been splurging. I think the 49ers should do everything they can to recoup every dollar that they can get back from him, and if he doesn’t have the money, guess where it comes from? His future contracts.

Whitner said on the Grit Cod podcast

Adam Schefter of ESPN expects the 49ers to release Aiyuk. But he has to wait until training camp kicks off in late July.

I would imagine that when the 49ers get back and reconvene for training camp, right around there, I would think that they wind up releasing Brandon Aiyuk. Just flat out cutting him.

Schefter said via Niners Wire. (H/T Yahoo Sports)

The 49ers drafted Aiyuk 25th overall. Since his debut, he has caught 294 passes for 4305 yards and scored 25 touchdowns.

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