On November 2nd, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk hired Drew Rosenhaus as his new agent. He did this in hopes of returning to the NFL.
After signing Rosenhaus, they decided to turn in the necessary paperwork to be reinstated on Friday. This will happen on November 6th at the San Francisco 49ers facility.
This has now sparked more talk and controversy in the 49ers’ locker room. The media constantly asks star players how they feel about this. Most of them are not giving a straight answer to protect their image.
That said, Aiyuk’s decision has made many question how the rest of his career will shape up. Only a few specific options are truly possible for him to make a comeback in the NFL.
Aiyuk Stays With the 49ers
With constant drama still occurring, San Francisco has an important decision to make with Brandon Aiyuk. This decision could ultimately change the course of his entire career.
If the 49ers decide to keep the wide receiver on the team and reinstate him, it could be both controversial and beneficial.
The receiver still owes roughly $13 million in bonus forfeiture, which could be a complication. However, if the money is paid back, San Francisco gains an extra $13 million to use elsewhere. In fact, the team could use these resources to help improve the team.
If they decide to add Aiyuk to the 53-man roster, the 49ers will have to pay him a prorated base salary of $26.015 million.
On the bright side, if San Francisco moves forward, they will add a wide receiver to the roster in desperate times. This matters because a wide receiver is a key need for the team.
Going into Week 9 against the Las Vegas Raiders, the team is without wide receivers Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, De’Zhaun Stribling, and Christian Kirk. This is creating a gap at the position.
Even if Brandon Aiyuk cannot play this season, this still gives the team an opportunity to add a player who knows the playbook and the winning culture and can make an immediate impact if healthy next season.
Aiyuk Gets Released and Plays Elsewhere
The most likely option here is the receiver getting reinstated from the reserve/left squad list. He is then released from San Francisco. Afterward, he signs a new deal with another team.
After being questioned multiple times about the situation, Head Coach Kyle Shanahan finally gave a more direct answer about how he feels.
“No clue. Your guess is as good as mine,” Shanahan told reporters Friday when asked what he expected out of the meeting. “I couldn’t care less.”
This has seemingly been the attitude of most of the 49ers roster when asked about the situation, which leads most of the NFL to believe San Francisco will release Aiyuk when this is all said and done.
For Aiyuk, this could finally be the fresh start he’s been looking for. He can join whichever team is interested in him. He can also help any team that needs a wide receiver to round out its roster.
Teams like the Kansas City Chiefs are seeking help after losing Tyquan Thornton. The Indianapolis Colts need help after trading multiple superstars. The Buffalo Bills want to give Josh Allen more help. Along with many other teams, these are options for Aiyuk to reach out to.
Aiyuk Doesn’t Get Reinstated
Unfortunately for Brandon Aiyuk, there is always the possibility he won’t be reinstated because of things he’s done and said while he hasn’t been in the NFL, specifically on social media.
If this is the case, then any transaction such as a trade, release, or a roster activation will not happen unless NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell approves a reinstatement.
At the end of the day, Aiyuk could have ruined his image and a bright future in the NFL simply because of his actions off the field.
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