The reason Commanders, 49ers are having a Brandon Aiyuk staring contest

The reason Commanders, 49ers are having a Brandon Aiyuk staring contest originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Washington Commanders and San Francisco 49ers might be ideal trade partners for Brandon Aiyuk.

After a messy year in the Bay Area, Aiyuk could get a fresh start in the nation's capital.

There's just one problem: A deal might not go down for a while.

The Commanders and 49ers are locked in a metaphorical staring contest. Neither side has a reason to move yet.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport joined The Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday and explained each side.

"The Commanders have interest but they're waiting for the 49ers to cut him," Rapoport shared.

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The 49ers don't have to be in a rush to cut Aiyuk, though.

"The 49ers don't wanna cut him because they know the Commanders are interested," Rapoport said.

And the final key is that Aiyuk isn't actually owed any more guaranteed money.

"Brandon Aiyuk has no guaranteed money left because he stopped showing up for rehab last year," Rapoport said.

So the 49ers have no incentive to move Aiyuk anytime soon. They don't actually owe him any money unless he makes it to the season still a part of their team.

They also don't have any pressure on cutting him months from now -- again, they won't owe him anything since his failure to show up voided his guarantees.