How 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk Has Become His Own Worst Enemy
How 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk Has Become His Own Worst Enemy
What seemed like a guarantee a month ago is now in doubt.Jose Sanchez|
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San Francisco 49ersIt's been quite an eventful last couple of weeks with Brandon Aiyuk going on a social media rampage.
He's been nonstop on there, from posting videos, where he takes shots at the San Francisco 49ers, to acting like he's already signed with the Washington Commanders. It's been odd to put it lightly.
And while he isn't doing anything egregious, his social media antics have only hurt himself. It's gotten to a point where it's no longer a guarantee that the Commanders will sign him once he's released.
The Athletic's Nicki Jhabvala, who covers the Commanders closely, has alluded to that. You can read her full thoughts about that here.
Aiyuk will regret social media videos
If what Jhabvala alluded to comes to pass, then Aiyuk will regret his social media videos. This entire time, he's been his own worst enemy.
His videos have done nothing but strengthen the negative perspective about him. All he's done is prove how immature he is and that he's a red flag.
He may think there's no harm in the videos. He's not doing anything different than a lot of people do on social media, which is post for attention. That is what I think is driving him with his videos.
But NFL teams aren't going to like that, especially with how constant he's been positing oddly. He's viewing this like a game.
For a player who is coming off a torn ACL and MCL, he would've done better if he posted videos of how he looks running routes and working out.
Even telling his side of the story would've been fair game. Now, he's viewed as this toxic individual, and it's reached a point where it's no longer a guarantee the Commanders will sign him.
It's not like he is communicating with the Commanders behind the scenes. He doesn't even have an agent to do that for him, so he's just basing that off of reports or chats with Jayden Daniels.
Reality will hit Aiyuk like a truck when he's released. He will expect to join the Commanders immediately when the 49ers finally cut him, only to realize they'll hesitate.
I think it will reach that point for the Commanders. It doesn't matter if Aiyuk will be cheap to sign. There isn't a low price in the world any team would like if it meant a massive distraction.
And once that realization comes over Aiyuk, he'll be filled with regret.
Follow Jose on X (Twitter) @JS3sanchezz to interact with him on the 49ers and more.
Published 20 minutes ago
JOSE SANCHEZJose Luis Sanchez III has covered the San Francisco 49ers daily for FanNation since 2019. He started off as the lead publisher for FanNation's All49ers, then switched positions to become the Deputy Editor in 2020. Sanchez writes, edits, and produces videos daily for All49ers. He also co-hosts a show on YouTube with All49ers lead publisher Grant Cohn weekly. Prior to FanNation, Sanchez started his writing career back in 2016 for the school newspaper at Skyline college where he covered all sports team in the Bay Area. Following that from 2017 to 2019, he found a role as a contributor for FanSided's news desk along with their site's Just Blog Baby covering the Las Vegas Raiders and Golden Gate Sports every professional Bay Area sports team. Atop all of that, he was able to graduate with a Bachelors degree in Communication Studies at San Francisco State University in 2020. Sanchez is committed to ensuring he delivers transparent analysis and straightforward opinions that resonates with readers to get them thinking.
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Bills' C Connor McGovern: Buffalo's No. 13 Player Looks to Pay Off Big Contract
Bills' C Connor McGovern: Buffalo's No. 12 Player Looks to Pay Off Big Contract
Buffalo Bills' veteran center Connor McGovern is next in our Top 25 Player Rankings.Owen Klein|
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Buffalo Bills | News, Scores, Schedules & StandingsAs the team enjoys its summer break, Bills On SI will unveil its Top 25 Player Rankings (based upon expected impact) for the 2026 season. The ranking methodology is based on positional value, past performance and expectations for any player. C Connor McGovern carries a new contract with his No. 12 ranking.
The anchor of any offensive line in football is the center, the player who snaps the ball to the quarterback and gives the signals up front, and those qualities make the Buffalo Bills' Connor McGovern one of their more important players.
After a three-season stretch in Buffalo that saw McGovern start 56 total games, including in the playoffs, and earn a Pro Bowl nod in 2024, he was awarded a four-year, $52 million contract in March.
McGovern is one of the best all-around centers in the game, and his being the fourth-highest-paid center in the NFL backs up that belief. Also, his annual average value is less than half of that of the Las Vegas Raiders' Tyler Linderbaum, who became the highest-paid center in league history, so the Bills retained him at a relatively low price.
Why is McGovern so important?
Connor McGovern last season:
— BillsOnReal (@BillsOnReal) June 29, 2026
- 1037 Offensive Snaps
- 0 Sacks Allowed
Got paid that BAGGGG 🤑🤑🤑 pic.twitter.com/ooiCN3xfkX
Despite Josh Allen being sacked a career-high 40 times in 2025, McGovern was not responsible for a single one on 1,037 snaps, the second-highest snap count of his career. His 73.4 Pro Football Focus pass protection grade ranked him as the sixth-best in the NFL in that regard.
McGovern played 98.1% of Buffalo's offensive snaps in 2025, and of the 16 games he played (he sat out the regular-season finale against the New York Jets), McGovern played every snap in 13 of them, being constantly available when others missed games with injuries.
Although McGovern had only a 65.3 run-blocking grade, Buffalo had the league's best rushing offense and James Cook won the league's rushing title, a testament to McGovern's role along the unit up front.
McGovern's background
McGovern was born on November 3, 1997 in Larksville, Pennsylvania, and attended Lake-Lehman High School, where he earned Wyoming Valley Conference Most Valuable Player and first-team All-State honors as a senior.
As a four-star recruit, McGovern chose Penn State over schools like Boston College and Duke. He split time between right guard and center during his three seasons as a Nittany Lion, starting 34 games overall and earning third-team All-Big Ten honors in 2018.
The Dallas Cowboys selected McGovern in the third round at No. 90 overall, but he missed his entire rookie season due to a torn pectoral muscle. He made 29 starts in 45 appearances with the Cowboys across three seasons before inking a three-year, $23 million contract with the Bills in March 2023. Since then, he has developed into a key cog on Buffalo's offensive line.
The rest of the top 25 so far:
25. RB Ty Johnson, June 16
24. CB Maxwell Hairston, June 17
23. K Tyler Bass, June 18
22. CB Dee Alford, June 19
21. LB Dorian Williams, June 20
20. RB Ray Davis, June 22
19. S C.J. Gardner-Johnson, June 23
18. G Alec Anderson, June 24
17. TE Dawson Knox, June 25
16. DT Deone Walker, June 27
15. TE Dalton Kincaid, June 28
14. G O'Cyrus Torrence, June 29
Published 2 hours ago
OWEN KLEINOwen Klein has covered football, basketball and baseball for Penn State athletics as a broadcaster on local radio, including producing Penn State’s 2024 men’s basketball Big Ten Tournament games and calling Penn State football’s Whiteout vs. Washington in November 2024. He has internships with the Buffalo Bisons and CBS affiliate WIVB in Buffalo, NY, in the summer of 2025. He is a Penn State University broadcast journalism student at the Bellisario College of Communications majoring in broadcast journalism and is passionate about college and professional sports, the Pokémon Video Game Championships and the Buffalo Bills.
Follow Kleiner2003C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young May Impact Each Other’s Future Extensions
C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young May Impact Each Other’s Future Extensions
The first two picks in the 2023 NFL draft will forever be linked. The financial fortunes of Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud may have something in common as well.Russell Baxter|
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Carolina PanthersHouston TexansThey were the first two selections in the 2023 NFL draft. The Carolina Panthers gave up plenty to move up to the top spot (owned by the Chicago Bears) to grab University of Alabama signal-caller and 2021 Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young. Minutes later, the Houston Texans opted for Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Panthers’ QB Bryce Young had a forgettable rookie season
The beginning of their pro careers couldn’t be more opposite. Young started all but one game for a team that finished 2-15. He completed 59.8 percent of his passes for 2,877 yards, 11 touchdowns and 10 picks. He was sacked 62 times and lost six of his 11 fumbles.
On the other hand, Stroud was a sensation. In his 15 starts, he hit on 63.9 of his throws for 4,108 yards and more than four times as many TD passes (23) as interceptions (5). He ran for 167 yards and three scores, was sacked only 38 times and lost just 4-of-8 fumbles. The Texans won the AFC South and Stroud was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and earned a Pro Bowl invitation.
Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud may be joined at the financial hip
Throwback to when Bryce Young got fired up when the Texans drafted CJ Stroud. pic.twitter.com/MHrFlnByzN
— Kalshi Football (@KalshiFB) March 11, 2026
Young has made steady improvement these past two seasons, and led Carolina to the NFC South title in 2025. Stroud has had some ups and downs as of late, but the Texans have been a playoff team in each of his three seasons. Not surprisingly, both Carolina and Houston picked up the fifth-year options on their young field generals.
ESPN’s NFL Nation of writers took a look at each team and its most logical player in terms of a contract extension. It feels like it’s just a matter of time before new deals are done for Young and Stroud. Then again…
“The Panthers are open to the idea of an extension for Young,” said Dan Graziano, “and they continue to say they believe in him as their long-term franchise QB. But they aren't in a hurry to do a deal, and it's possible this doesn't happen until next offseason…”
The 2026 season is important to both Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud
When CJ Stroud threw 4 ints in the first half 😭 pic.twitter.com/PIyJmnztoL https://t.co/PQyDfKvich
— 𝙅𝙪𝙨𝙈𝙚 (@JusMe___) June 9, 2026
“But with Houston seemingly in no hurry with Young's 2023 draftmate C.J. Stroud,” added Graziano, “there’s no rush to jump the market and do a Young deal without seeing more.”
Apparently, the Texans want to see more from Stroud as well. The three-year pro had a forgettable postseason. In the playoff split with the Steelers and Patriots, he hit on only 51.9 percent of his passes for 462 yards, two touchdowns and five interceptions (4 of those picks vs. New England). He was sacked three times in each contest, and at Pittsburgh fumbled five times—losing a pair of those drops.
“Stroud and the Texans aren't close to a deal as of late June,” explained ESPN’s DJ Bien-Aime. “Houston and its quarterback are in a tricky spot because last season did not end the way either would’ve preferred…With how negotiations are currently going,” stated Graziano’s colleague, “it's gearing up to be a prove-it season for Stroud.”
Obviously, the contract situations for both quarterbacks certainly bears watching. Just how long that watch will take place is a very different story.
Published 2 hours ago
RUSSELL BAXTERRussell S. Baxter has been writing and researching the game of football for more than 40 years, and on numerous platforms. That includes television, as he spent more than two decades at ESPN, and was part of shows that garnered five Emmy Awards. He also spent the 2015 NFL season with Thursday Night Football on CBS/NFLN.
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