Brandon Aiyuk’s future with the San Francisco 49ers feels a lot less certain. Last July, the team reportedly voided guarantees in his deal after he ran into some contract technicality, and now trade buzz is starting to pick up. That said, his personal coach isn’t buying all the hype, and he has even warned teams not to overpay just to land the star receiver.

“And I said, if anybody gives him a crazy amount of money, they should be fired tomorrow,” T.J. Houshmandzadeh said on Speakeasy. “They should be fired immediately. No owner is going to allow a general manager to pay BA (Brandon Aiyuk) that type of money, the way he just acted in San Francisco. Nobody is doing that. And so if you want to play for $5 million and maybe three to four in incentives, we’re going to take you. If you think you’re getting a dollar more than that, somebody else, y’all got this. Because if I’m a general manager, I can’t risk my livelihood and my job for you after what you just showed us.”

While discussing Aiyuk’s next landing spot, former receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who was a personal receiver coach and a major advocate for Aiyuk during his contract battle, pointed out some trust issues after everything that happened with the 49ers. Looking more closely at the situation, Brandon Aiyuk signed a four-year, $120 million contract extension with San Francisco in 2024. During that same season, Aiyuk tore both his ACL and MCL in Week 7, which ruled him out for the rest of the year.

By July, he was placed on the PUP list as he worked his way back from the knee injury he suffered the previous October. Things took another turn when the 49ers voided Aiyuk’s guarantees after he reportedly missed some of his required rehab sessions at the team facility.

With all the drama and uncertainty, there’s been a growing belief that the 49ers could eventually move on from the veteran receiver. That said, they’re not rushing into anything and would rather get something in return if they do part ways. The team also placed Aiyuk on the reserve/left squad list in December 2025.

At this point, San Francisco could wait until after June 1 to make a move and get better cap flexibility.

Still, with all the recent drama, Aiyuk might end up having to take a one-year deal, as teams stay cautious and the 49ers try to limit the financial impact. The Washington Commanders have been mentioned as a potential landing spot, especially with Jayden Daniels in the picture.

Brandon Aiyuk’s likely next destination

In the video segment, the panel discussed Brandon Aiyuk’s potential landing spot, and again, the Commanders were mentioned as a potential fit for Aiyuk.

“If you get BA plus Scary Terry (Terry McLaurin) plus Jayden Daniels, plus a defensive‑minded head coach who has retooled the defense, the Commanders could win a division,” sports analyst Emmanuel Acho said.

The idea actually makes a lot of sense. Aiyuk would get a chance to play with Daniels, his former college teammate from Arizona State, and Washington would get a true WR1 opposite McLaurin. This would help take pressure off McLaurin and allow more opportunities for Daniels to make more plays, since defenses would have to deal with multiple threats.

While T.J. Houshmandzadeh has had some strong opinions about Aiyuk’s potential contract value, he also made it clear he believes in his ability to step in as a primary option.

“He can go. It’s crazy because when you see BA on TV, he looks like this big dude, but he’s not. He just has long arms. He can run; he’s quick. He’ll be the best receiver on that team, and he already has that relationship with JD.”

Aiyuk is the 25th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and has amassed respectable numbers. Aiyuk has 294 receptions for 4,305 yards in five seasons. He has back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2022 and 2023. There is no doubt he is a significant contributor to the 49ers’ offense.

At this point, there is a high possibility that Aiyuk could end up on the Washington roster before the start of the season. It could simply come down to how long the 49ers are willing to wait.