What happened: Brandon Aiyuk posted a video to Instagram on Sunday appearing to suggest the 49ers are reluctant to release him because he could sign elsewhere and make the team regret it. The post is the latest in a string of cryptic social-media messages from the receiver as his future in San Francisco remains unresolved.

Why it matters: The video deepens a public standoff between Aiyuk and the franchise that has simmered throughout the offseason, after the same cryptic-video pattern drew attention earlier this week. With the relationship increasingly playing out in public, any resolution — a trade, a release, or a reconciliation — carries roster and cap consequences for a team built to contend in 2026.

What to watch: Watch for whether the 49ers front office responds publicly and whether trade interest from other teams materializes before training camp.