With each passing day, the San Francisco 49ers have to worry more about whether it is possible to keep their superstar receiver.

Despite attending training camp and even traveling to the 49ers’ final preseason game in Las Vegas, Brandon Aiyuk has not participated in any practices or drills. With less than two weeks to go before the season begins, San Francisco is pressed for time.

Will they be able to negotiate an extension that keeps Aiyuk in San Francisco beyond this season, the last of his rookie contract? That question becomes more important with each passing day, as the 49ers know that while their title window is open this season, it is not open forever.

As the standoff continues, a new round of rumors surrounding Aiyuk’s involvement with the Washington Commanders appears to be brewing. NFL Network insider Peter Schrager spoke on X on Sunday about why he believes the Commanders should be in the running for the 49ers superstar.

“Washington’s GM Adam Peters just spent 7 years with John Lynch in San Francisco and was instrumental in the 2020 San Francisco Draft… Jayden Daniels’ most important player at ASU ’19? Brandon Ayiuk. 1,192 yards,” Schrager said. “As much as PITT has gotten so much buzz, shouldn’t Washington/SF be talking about it?”

Aiyuk, 26, has been embroiled in a contract dispute with the 49ers practically since the confetti rained down at the end of the Super Bowl. Combine the Dotson trade with Schrager’s efforts to link the star to DC, and it’s questionable whether the Commanders would consider an offer.

In response to Schrager’s apparent speculation, 49ers insider Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area explained the consideration he believes would be needed for Washington to complete the Aiyuk deal.

“If Washington is back in the game, it would take a second, third and maybe something else AND a contract that Aiyuk would accept to make a deal,” Maiocco said.

While it’s not entirely accurate to describe the deals that simply, considering they received a third-round pick in exchange for Dotson, under Maiocco’s terms the Commanders would have essentially traded Dotson and a second-round pick for Aiyuk.

Seems…pretty affordable for an All-Pro at a game-changing position on offense? Especially considering Aiyuk already has a good rapport with the rookie quarterback Washington hopes will be the future of its franchise?

There are still obvious hurdles to getting a deal across the finish line, but the Commanders should be taking the Aiyuk approach more and more with each passing day. They can afford to sit out the 49ers since their championship window hasn’t started to open yet.

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