Announcement: Commanders Agree $87.4 Million Deal To Sign All-Pro “Dynamic Weapon” In No-Brainer Long-Term Contract

The Washington Commanders have quickly built a roster capable of making a postseason push in the NFC by leveraging the league’s largest asset pool this summer.

Adam Peters, the new general manager, came into the offseason with the league’s most cap room and the second overall choice in the NFL Draft. Peters has now assembled an offensive core that includes former LSU Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels, running back Austin Ekeler, and Pro Bowl center Tyler Biadasz, as well as a defense that includes newcomers Dante Fowler, Bobby Wagner, and Jeremy Chinn and will be led by new coach Dan Quinn.

Even though the Commanders already boast playmaking wide receivers Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson, Peters, and Washington have the opportunity — and the resources, to add another dynamic weapon to Daniels’ arsenal in the passing game.

Washington Commanders’ No-Brainer Brandon Aiyuk Trade Proposal

If that’s the case, and given the uphill battle Peters and the Commanders face in overtaking the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East, as well as the urgency to maximize the window to surround Daniels with elite young talent while the quarterback is still on his rookie contract, Washington will pull out all the stops to sign Aiyuk.

Cody Benjamin, a CBS Sports commentator, proposed a trade that would land Aiyuk in return for a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

According to Benjamin, Aiyuk is more valuable than a first-round pick. In 2022, the Philadelphia Eagles traded a first- and third-round pick to the Tennessee Titans for A.J. Brown. However, unlike Brown, Aiyuk has recently had a successful season. The Brown deal happened during the draft, and the Commanders already have Terry McLaurin, so there’s no need for a significant boost in wide receiver.

“Combine that with the 49ers having greater bargaining power than Aiyuk in contract negotiations, and acquiring a Day 1 selection via trade might be regarded a significant San Francisco victory this late in the offseason. Given that Washington is just getting started, the Commanders could end up with an early or mid-first-round pick in 2025, which would increase the desirability of their selection.”

Benjamin is likely true that Aiyuk may bring the 49ers more than a first-round pick. However, if this is an offer on the table, the Commanders should accept it by any means required.

Aiyuk, 26, is still in his prime and is coming off a fantastic 2023 season in which he caught 75 catches for a career-high 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns.

Perhaps most crucially, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy had a nearly faultless 126.8 passer rating while throwing Aiyuk’s way, highlighting his potential impact on Daniels’ growth as a deep threat and dependable security blanket for a young quarterback.

While the Commanders have every motivation to trade for Aiyuk, and the resources to secure him long-term (upwards of $87.4 million in cap space in 2025), the 49ers could strongly consider this deal to net a premium asset to continue building around Purdy, who is about to get much more expensive once San Francisco can finally pay him as one of the premier quarterbacks in the league next offseason.