San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has played his final snap for the team. General manager John Lynch essentially confirmed as much when asked about the disgruntled wideout during his end-of-season press conference. It was an incredibly strange season for Aiyuk, who will be available this offseason.
Aiyuk began the 2025 campaign on the PUP list as a result of a season-ending ACL injury in 2024. It was an unfortunate setback for both team and player, roughly two months after a lengthy holdout was ended by a four-year, $120 million contract extension. The 49ers have since successfully voided the guaranteed portion of that contract.
John Lynch on Brandon Aiyuk:
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) January 21, 2026
“I think it’s safe to say that he’s played his last snap with the Niners. It’s unfortunate. A situation that just went awry. I will look long and hard at what could have been done differently, but sometimes it just doesn’t work out.” pic.twitter.com/OO9MGKv1Zc
It was ruled that Aiyuk violated the terms of the extension by refusing to participate in team activities. Aiyuk was eventually placed on the reserve/left squad list. We've identified three teams that should consider acquiring him this offseason.
Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders are conducting a thorough search before naming their next head coach. The expectation is that they'll eventually appoint an offensive-minded leader. Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and Denver Broncos quarterbacks coach Davis Webb are strong contenders.
The Raiders are almost certainly going to select Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Attention will then swiftly shift to improving the roster, specifically at wide receiver, where they have few proven options. The Raiders should vet Aiyuk thoroughly. If his mindset is in the correct place, he'd be a huge upgrade.
Tennessee Titans
Former 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is the Tennessee Titans' new head coach. Few coaches around the league will possess a better understanding of Aiyuk's mindset and what exactly happened in San Francisco than Saleh. If he's confident in his ability to manage his personality, then the Titans should be an option.
Tennessee possesses the most cap space in the NFL and has a huge need to surround franchise quarterback Cam Ward with more pass-catching talent. Aiyuk would immediately become the Titans' WR1 in an offense that may get Brian Daboll to coordinate it. Saleh is tasked with installing culture and leadership in Nashville after it wavered under Brian Callahan. It's a non-starter if Saleh knows Aiyuk is a bad fit.
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots are playing in the AFC Championship Game. First-year head coach Mike Vrabel has led the miraculous turnaround of a team that was 3-14 in 2024. This era of Patriots dominance is just getting started under Vrabel and franchise quarterback Drake Maye, who's a serious MVP candidate.
There's room for the Patriots to invest more in Maye's supporting cast this offseason. They'll have more than $31 million in cap space, 10th-most in the NFL this offseason, according to Over The Cap. Stefon Diggs has performed above expectations, but he's 32. The 27-year-old Aiyuk would be a longer-term solution. Vrabel is the ideal coach to manage difficult personalities, having successfully managed A.J. Brown in Tennessee.