The 49ers stalemate with Brandon Aiyuk continues.The expectation this offseason has been that the Niners will release the wideout at some point, but they are taking their time with the decision.The 49ers are yet to make a final decision on wideout AiyukGettyAiyuk didn’t take the field for a single snap in 2025, as he was recovering from a knee injury he suffered in 2024.His recovery didn’t go according to the projected timeline and tensions between Aiyuk and the franchise grew.Head coach Kyle Shanahan signalled that the organization had all but moved on from one of the most talented, yet troubled, receivers in the league.That was evidenced by the aggressive moves made by the 49ers in free-agency. Both Mike Evans and Christian Kirk have arrived, to join Ricky Pearsall in the wide-receiver room.But the lack of an Aiyuk transaction has left fans, and presumably the player himself, wondering why something hasn’t been done yet.Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT’s Will Varney, Matt Barrows, who covers the Niners for The Athletic, has detailed the situation in San Francisco.Niners insider shares update on Brandon Aiyuk trade“You asked if they are holding him hostage, I just think that they want something for him,” Burrows said.“They have dumped a ton of resources — monetary, all the rehab efforts that they went through — into him, and they want something back.“I also think, it’s just my suspicion, that they feel like the Washington Commanders are angling for Brandon Aiyuk, and you understand why.”Washington, indeed, have been favorites to land Aiyuk through the offseason.Matt Burrows has suggested the 49ers want are holding onto Aiyuk because they feel he has trade valueYouTube / talkSPORT USAAiyuk has been connected with the Commanders all offseasonGettyThe star has connections with general manager Adam Peters, who used to be employed by the Niners, and he also pushed for a move there before signing his four-year, $120 million extension in 2024.Burrows revealed that Aiyuk has been in contact with members of the Commanders, including their star quarterback.Brandon Aiyuk behavior ‘rubbing Niners the wrong way’“Aiyuk wanted to be traded to the Commanders during their contract dispute,” Burrows continued.“He is good friends with Jayden Daniels, and Jayden Daniels has been communicating with Brandon Aiyuk throughout this whole weird, I call it ‘fade-pattern’ that he has run.“It’s not technically tampering, I don’t think, if two buddies are texting each other, but it’s rubbing the 49ers the wrong way that he seems earmarked to go to this other team in this conference.”The Commanders have had an active and successful free agency to date, headlined by the addition of Odafe Oweh.Burrows revealed that Aiyuk has been in contact with Daniels this offseasonGettyBut, it does feel that they are still missing a legitimate WR2 opposite Terry McLaurin, after they chose not to re-sign Deebo Samuel.Burrows told talkSPORT that San Francisco holds all the cards in a potential deal.“The longer he is held ‘hostage’ — I think it puts pressure on the Commanders,” he said.“If the Commanders are in fact counting on or thinking about having Brandon Aiyuk as part of their wide-receiving core — and they do need to add another receiver in Washington — the longer you hold him, the more nervous I think the Commanders get.“They want him in the building, they want to see his knee, for example.“They want that to happen sooner rather than later and if the 49ers are holding on to him, maybe that is an impetus to get a deal done.”Stay up to date with the latest from the NFL across all platforms – follow our dedicated talkSPORT USA Facebook page and subscribe to our talkSPORT USA YouTube channel for all the news, exclusives, interviews and more.