Why 49ers haven't traded Brandon Aiyuk — and if they still plan to release him

TL;DR

Brandon Aiyuk remains with the San Francisco 49ers despite trade rumors. The team has not yet made a decision on whether to trade or release him.

Key points

Brandon Aiyuk remains on the 49ers' roster
The team has not traded him yet
Opportunities to trade Aiyuk may have closed

San Francisco 49ersBrandon Aiyuk

Why 49ers haven't traded Brandon Aiyuk — and if they still plan to release him originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

For all the negative Brandon Aiyuk energy involving the San Francisco 49ers, one thing hasn't changed yet: Aiyuk remains a member of the 'Niners.

The wide receiver, who didn't play a snap in 2025, is still on the 49ers' roster until they do something about it, whether that's a trade or a release.

San Francisco may have had the chance to trade Aiyuk in the past, but that window appears to have closed.

Now, it has mostly devolved into a waiting game.

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Why haven't the 49ers traded Brandon Aiyuk?

The reality is there's no incentive for another team to trade for Aiyuk.

"Everyone in the league knows they're going to have to eventually release him," ESPN's Dan Graziano wrote in a new article on Tuesday. "The Niners might have voided Aiyuk's contract guarantees last year, but they didn't void the contract entirely. If he's on their team in 2026, they have to pay him $27 million. If a team traded for him, it would have to pay him $27 million. If the 49ers cut him, they don't have to pay him that money -- and the team that signs him could theoretically get him for less."

A trade frankly wouldn't make much sense for the acquiring team.

Why haven't the 49ers released Brandon Aiyuk?

This is all about timing. There's no rush for the 49ers, either, because none of his money is guaranteed.

He just has to be off the roster by Week 1.

"The Niners don't need to cut him until it's time for him to get paid, so they can wait, too, and see whether a team ultimately decides to send them a draft pick for Aiyuk," Graziano writes.

Many have suggested the Washington Commanders as a destination, but nothing can happen until the 49ers decide it's time to make something happen.

"Given the way things have gone between Aiyuk and the 49ers over the past couple of years, San Francisco doesn't appear to be in a hurry to do him the favor of making him a free agent," Graziano writes.