Brandon Aiyuk keeps saying he’ll be playing for Washington. He has no interest in returning to the 49ers, and they have no interest in bringing him back.
San Francisco continues to squat on his rights, but they soured on him long ago – after a contract squabble entering the 2024 season. At this point, the team’s only objectives are to try to extract some value out of him on his way out the door – maybe picking up something in a trade or reducing the financial impact of his depature.
But when camp comes, the 49ers will have no interest in putting him on the field, with the financial risk of him suffering an injury. He’ll be gone; it’s only a question of when.
And it’s the Commanders, by all appearances, who’ll be snapping him up. That makes sense, with Aiyuk having played with Jayden Daniels at Arizona State. That makes for an interesting combo, considering how well Daniels played two years ago.
Aiyuk suffered a knee injury in 2024, costing him 10 games and all of last season. But I think he’s physically right now, making him worth a late-round gamble. Playing opposite Terry McLaurin (who’s probably one of the league’s top 20 receiver), Aiyuk shouldn’t have to worry much about seeing top corners or many double teams.
Pre-injury, Aiyuk put up some unreal numbers. In 2023, he caught 75 passes while averaging 17.9 yards per catch. He caught over 71 percent of the balls thrown his way that year.
While he was helped along by playing in an offensive machine – the 49ers were shredding opponents that year – those are amazing numbers. That translates to 12.8 yards per pass attempt.
Since the NFL started publishing targets in 1992, 1,401 players have seen at least 100 targets in a season. Aiyuk averaged almost a yard more per play than any of them. Only 18 others have averaged at least 11 yards per catch.
Admittedly, we’re talking about a different team now, and perhaps a different, diminished player. But worth a later-round stab, without a doubt.
| PLAYERS AVERAGING 11 YARDS PER TARGET (1992-) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | Tgt | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | YPT |
| 2023 | • Brandon Aiyuk, S.F. | 105 | 75 | 1,342 | 17.9 | 7 | 12.8 |
| 2023 | Nico Collins, Hou. | 109 | 80 | 1,297 | 16.2 | 8 | 11.9 |
| 1998 | Eric Moulds, Buff. | 116 | 67 | 1,368 | 20.4 | 9 | 11.8 |
| 2000 | Torry Holt, St.L. | 139 | 82 | 1,635 | 19.9 | 6 | 11.8 |
| 2011 | Victor Cruz, NYG | 131 | 82 | 1,536 | 18.7 | 9 | 11.7 |
| 2021 | Deebo Samuel, S.F. | 121 | 77 | 1,405 | 18.3 | 6 | 11.6 |
| 2022 | Jaylen Waddle, Mia. | 117 | 75 | 1,356 | 18.1 | 8 | 11.6 |
| 1992 | Michael Irvin, Dall. | 122 | 78 | 1,396 | 17.9 | 7 | 11.4 |
| 2021 | Ja'Marr Chase, Cin. | 128 | 81 | 1,455 | 18.0 | 13 | 11.4 |
| 2017 | Tyreek Hill, K.C. | 105 | 75 | 1,183 | 15.8 | 7 | 11.3 |
| 2020 | Justin Jefferson, Min. | 125 | 88 | 1,400 | 15.9 | 7 | 11.2 |
| 2000 | Randy Moss, Min. | 129 | 77 | 1,437 | 18.7 | 15 | 11.1 |
| 2005 | Santana Moss, Was. | 134 | 84 | 1,483 | 17.7 | 9 | 11.1 |
| 2018 | Mike Evans, T.B. | 138 | 86 | 1,524 | 17.7 | 8 | 11.0 |
| 2019 | Chris Godwin, T.B. | 121 | 86 | 1,333 | 15.5 | 9 | 11.0 |
| 2008 | Steve Smith, Car. | 129 | 78 | 1,421 | 18.2 | 6 | 11.0 |
| 2025 | Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Sea. | 163 | 119 | 1,793 | 15.1 | 10 | 11.0 |
| 2021 | Tyler Lockett, Sea. | 107 | 73 | 1,175 | 16.1 | 8 | 11.0 |
| 2025 | Jameson Williams, Det. | 102 | 65 | 1,117 | 17.2 | 7 | 11.0 |
—Ian Allan
