Just 15 months after Brandon Aiyuk signed a four-year, $120 million contract, it appears that his time with the San Francisco 49ers is coming to an unfortunate end. According to The Athletic, the 27-year-old wide receiver has “likely” played his last game with the team that drafted him in 2020, and a split seems imminent for the upcoming offseason.
3 Possible Destinations For 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk
Where might Aiyuk be playing in 2026 and beyond? We take a look at three options below:
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have been the most popular talking point when it comes to Brandon Aiyuk’s future. There were plenty of reports last offseason of Mike Tomlin and company being interested in the 49ers wide receiver, but they instead pivoted to trading for DK Metcalf instead.
But Metcalf signing a five-year extension with Pittsburgh doesn’t mean that the team is set at wide receiver. They will almost certainly be open to adding another elite talent to their offense, especially given the lack of production from wide receivers not named Metcalf in 2025.
Aiyuk has previously named Pittsburgh as a preferred destination, and the Steelers have been floated repeatedly as one of the few teams willing to pay the price for acquiring him.
Washington Commanders
The 2025 season has been quite the letdown for the Commanders, especially on the offensive side of the ball. It hasn’t helped that second-year quarterback Jayden Daniels has been in and out of the lineup while dealing with various injuries, but there is a serious lack of firepower even when he is under center. Terry McLaurin, who had been a model of consistency in recent years, has just 203 receiving yards in just 4 games played, and is the 4th-leading wideout on the team’s stat sheet so far this year.
Aiyuk makes plenty of sense. Not only would he give Washington a #1 wide receiver option for the present and future, but he already has close relationships with some of the guys on the offense. He and Daniels played together at Arizona State in 2019, and he of course has an extensive history with Deebo Samuel who signed with the Commanders last offseason.
Buffalo Bills
There haven’t been any real substantive rumors linking Aiyuk to the Bills. But given the troubles that Josh Allen is having with his receiving core this NFL season, Buffalo will likely be linked to each and every big name wideout that is made available over the next six months.
Allen’s rotating cast of receivers hasn’t been able to create separation, and the deep passing game has suffered. Their receiving group is filled with complementary pieces, but none who can dictate coverage enough to be considered a clear #1. Even more so than in years past, the team has had to lean on their quarterback and his improvisational skills to help run their offense.
It is safe to say that they’ll be on the hunt for an elite wide receiver this coming offseason, but will Aiyuk be one of the options that Buffalo explores?
