The San Francisco 49ers are expected to release wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, a move that could come as soon as the trade deadline passes.
Aiyuk’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said he felt like he could help Aiyuk, who was in a “no man’s land” situation that was in “limbo.” Rosenhaus spoke about the roster exemption, the potential of the 49ers releasing his client, and that there will be interest in Aiyuk either way.
Rosenhaus said, “I definitely expect him to play this season. Judging by the comments of
Shanahan, it doesn’t sound like bringing Brandon back. So when the two weeks are over, it’s my job to potentially find a new team for him. And I’m confident, now that he’s healthy, he will play.”
Rosenhaus confirmed that Aiyuk hasn’t paid any of the $13 million he owes the 49ers. “That’s something that we’ll work out separate and distinct from the issue of him playing. Hopefully, we’ll work something out to the benefit of Brandon’s, and something that’s fair. That’s also part of my job.”
Rosenhaus shared what he would tell NFL teams about his client on Pat McAfee’s show Tuesday morning:
I definitely would tell the teams that he has passed many physicals with the 49ers. He had an MRI. He’s had X-Rays. He had a physical exam, and he passed it with flying colors. He’s working out on his own. He’s running routes. He’s catching footballs. He says he’s 100% ready to play. We’d be glad to go work out for interested teams if he is released by the 49ers.
As far as me talking to the teams. I think that, in all likelihood, Brandon would probably sign with a team that knows him. That somebody that is somehow affiliated with him, either in college or the 49ers. That’s just my guess. There’s a lot of that in the NFL. You see people connect the dots where there’s history, where there’s relationships. That’s just my assumption. That something like that could happen. A former coach. Maybe a former player that he played with. Somebody that knows him. And I think he’s in a really good place. He met with the 49ers. He did a good job in the meetings with them. He said hello to John Lynch. He met with the team. I feel like he’s in a good place. And getting to know him over the last week, I’m confident in his future moving forward.
Well, it’s a good thing Rosenhaus has known Aiyuk for an entire week.
Landing on the practice squad feels like the most plausible outcome for Aiyuk. It may take multiple weeks for him to work his way into playing shape, wherever he lands.
That could be Washington, but it also could mean Las Vegas with Klint Kubiak. He was the offensive coordinator during Aiyuk’s career year. Maybe it’s Arizona with Mike LaFleur. He was the 49ers’ passing game coordinator in 2020 when the Niners drafted Aiyuk.
