Brandon Aiyuk Could Offer Rams a Receiver Option

The Rams are short on receiver depth beyond Puka Nacua, particularly with Davante Adams unavailable. With other potential trade targets likely to require significant draft capital, Aiyuk could be a lower-cost option if he becomes a free agent.

Aiyuk requested reinstatement from the NFL on Tuesday and, through his new agent Drew Rosenhaus, said he is healthy and ready to play. He is expected to report to the 49ers’ facility on Friday. The team could then release him or consider a trade, though a deal within the division appears unlikely.

San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday he has moved on from the situation and has no expectations for Aiyuk. The receiver has not played since 2024, when he suffered ACL, MCL and meniscus tears. The 49ers later voided $27 million in future guarantees and added him to the reserve list for players away from the team.

Aiyuk’s history raises concerns about both his health and his relationship with the team. He criticized Shanahan and general manager John Lynch on social media over the summer, and his conduct reportedly cooled Washington’s offseason interest. But in 2023, he recorded 1,300 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, with 3.02 yards per route run, third in the NFL.

If released, Aiyuk would enter free agency, and the Rams would not take on the rest of his four-year, $120 million contract. The team could consider a short, incentive-heavy deal similar to Odell Beckham Jr.’s 2021 arrangement. Coach Sean McVay has said the Rams weigh potential upgrades against the draft resources they would have to surrender.