The 49ers' wide receiver room is a mess. Injuries to key players like Brandon Aiyuk and Ricky Pearsall have left the wideout corps without many options.
That's why the 49ers could be the perfect trade partner for a team with its own wide receiver issues. The Washington Commanders are amid a tense contract dispute with wideout Terry McLaurin.
The 30-year-old wants a contract extension in his final year being paid $15 million. The two sides have not come to an agreement yet but the 49ers are well-versed in contract negotiations. They just bartered with Aiyuk last season on a four-year, $120 million contract but the wideout tore his ACL just a few weeks into the season.
Matt Barrows, a senior writer at The Athletic, suggested a one-for-one deal that would send Aiyuk to the east coast and McLaurin to the west.
#49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk seems eager to get back on the field 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/PyawrqFh19
— OurSF49ers (@OurSf49ers) August 7, 2025
"While Aiyuk is coming off an Oct. 20 ACL tear and isn't expected to be ready at the start of the season, he's also two and a half years younger and has relationships throughout Commanders headquarters," Barrows wrote.
When Aiyuk asked for a trade last season amid contract talks, Washington was one of his top targets. Now with former teammate Deebo Samuel in the nation's capital, it could be a good fit for the young star.
The caveat would be matching salaries and the 49ers ponying up for a new contract for McLaurin. It's a lot of moving parts but Washington could escape some hostile negotiations and get a talented wideout for Jayden Daniels
It's still not a guarantee that they would do this if it were offered but it's fun a hypothetical.
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