Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is technically still a member of the San Francisco 49ers, but it’s safe to assume he won’t suit up for the team ever again. A first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Arizona State product immediately became a key part of the passing attack and peaked in 2023 when he recorded 75 receptions for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns on 105 targets. This impressive effort earned him a four-year, $120 million contract with the 49ers that both sides quickly came to regret.
Aiyuk tore his ACL midway through the 2024 season and missed the entirety of 2025 while in recovery. Injuries are unfortunate and an inevitable part of the game of football, but Aiyuk reportedly ghosted the team. The 49ers will now cut or trade him between now and the start of the regular season. Aiyuk has hardly played in the past two seasons, but his talent is undeniable. With so many teams looking for a reliable set of hands, the former first-round pick could try to re-establish his value with one of the following teams.
3 Teams That Could Acquire Brandon Aiyuk In 2026
Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders need another wide receiver, and Brandon Aiyuk and Jayden Daniels have an established friendship. This one makes all the sense in the world and, quite frankly, makes too much sense not to happen. After reaching the NFC Championship Game in 2024, the Commanders missed the playoffs entirely after Daniels spent most of the season battling injury. This team needs someone who can consistently get open and ensure the former second-overall pick doesn’t take any more hits than absolutely necessary. Seeing as Deebo Samuel is still a free agent, the team could let him walk and replace him with a different former 49er.
Kansas City Chiefs
Speaking of teams looking to bounce back from disappointing seasons, nobody thought the Kansas City Chiefs would hold a top-10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft at this point last year. This team needs a rebound season in the worst way, and they must do something to ensure quarterback Patrick Mahomes stays on his feet. The two-time NFL MVP is returning from a torn ACL and probably won’t be as mobile as normal. Kansas City must do something to ensure he always has an open target, as the wide receiver depth chart lacks proven options behind Rashee Rice. Maybe this is the year first-round pick Xavier Worthy establishes himself as a consistent threat, but it wouldn’t hurt to add an established veteran like Brandon Aiyuk to the mix.
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots did everything they could to trade for Brandon Aiyuk ahead of the 2024 season. However, the wide receiver ultimately didn’t want to play in New England and returned to the 49ers. At the time, New England had one of the league’s worst rosters, an untested coach, and no proven answer at quarterback.
Flash forward two years, and New England is fresh off a Super Bowl appearance, has a proven head coach in Mike Vrabel and, most importantly, an MVP-caliber quarterback in Drake Maye. The Patriots are a team on the rise, and they could use someone like Brandon Aiyuk to get the most out of Maye.
Main Photo: Junfu Han – Imagn Images
