Now that the NFL Draft has concluded, teams are transitioning into spring and summer workouts, including OTAs, minicamps, and soon, training camps.
The San Francisco 49ers addressed several positions this offseason, including the wide receiver room. While general manager John Lynch has indicated the team will not bring back Jauan Jennings, he has yet to decide how to handle another receiver.
Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk remains under contract on the 49ers’ Reserve/Left Squad list. Many expected the team to release him by now, but the 49ers have instead let the situation linger.
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A clearer timeline has begun to emerge. Matt Barrows of The Athletic believes May 27 is the key date to watch for Aiyuk’s potential release.
How could this happen? It’s simple: Aiyuk reports to camp. His return would force the 49ers to either release him or move him onto the active roster.
At the moment, Aiyuk is essentially a no-call, no-show. The team has effectively sidelined him—he isn’t getting paid, yet he cannot sign elsewhere because the 49ers still hold his rights.
The Aiyuk saga has been bizarre, to say the least. The current timeline traces back to the 2024 offseason. At that point, Aiyuk had entered the final year of his contract. After negotiations with the 49ers stalled, he requested a trade.
He appeared on multiple podcasts to explain his desire to leave and even named preferred landing spots.
The 49ers came within one phone call of finalizing a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers before Aiyuk changed his mind. Head coach Kyle Shanahan reportedly rushed to Lynch’s office to halt the deal.
During the 2024 season, Aiyuk suffered a torn ACL, and his situation has deteriorated since. He stopped attending rehab sessions and workouts and eventually distanced himself from the team entirely.
Now, his guarantees have been voided, and a once-promising career hangs in the balance. Could Aiyuk play his final card on May 27 and force the 49ers to release him?
He almost certainly needs a fresh start—but which team, if any, is willing to take that risk?