Dez Bryant goes off about Brandon Aiyuk amid arrest warrant controversy

Former Dallas Cowboys star Dez Bryant has come to the defense of San Francisco 49ers star Brandon Aiyuk following news of an arrest warrant issued against him. The wide receiver is facing a misdemeanor charge for exhibition of speed in a December 2025 YouTube video.

The video showed Aiyuk allegedly driving 104 mph in a 40 mph zone near Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The wide receiver self-filmed the clip, and both the Santa Clara Police Department and the county District Attorney have confirmed the warrant stemmed from it.

In a strongly worded post on social media on Tuesday, Dez Bryant suggested the timing and handling of the case were intentional against Brandon Aiyuk. The wide receiver has been in strong disagreement with the 49ers over the months and has gone AWOL ever since then.

“I don’t agree with how BA has been handling his business as a professional athlete..but this right here is strategically put together to smear his name..Some will get it..and some won’t…,” Bryant wrote on X.

There are quite a lot of fans and analysts who share Bryant’s opinion on the arrest warrant. Aiyuk offered a public apology after the incident in December, admitting his mistake while promising to avoid similar content in the future.

The arrest warrant further complicates what has been a turbulent offseason for Brandon Aiyuk. After missing the entire 2025 NFL season, the wideout has been in public friction with the 49ers front office, sparking trade rumors and uncertainty around his future with the franchise.

Analyst explains how Brandon Aiyuk’s trade can now benefit the 49ers

There’s been a lot of question marks on Brandon Aiyuk’s future since the end of last season. Many believe the wide receiver will be traded, but that has yet to happen. Analyst David Lombardi explains why a delayed trade of the wideout would now benefit the 49ers financially.

“If Brandon Aiyuk is traded after June 1st, the 49ers can save off the majority of that proration as far as it hits their salary cap to 2027,” Lombardi said. “To be exact, the trade after June 1st, the 49ers save about $20 million of salary cap space this season. It wouldn’t hit their books until 2027.

“A trade before June 1st would hit their books to the tune of $26.6 million of dead money this season. Brandon Ayuk’s existing salary cap hit is $13.67 million. So a trade after June 1st or June 2nd on Tuesday would actually save the 49ers some salary cap space this year.”

The Washington Commanders are one team that has been strongly linked to getting Aiyuk on a trade deal. The wide receiver has also dropped a solid hint on the team being his next destination after unfollowing everyone on Instagram except his wife, the Commanders’ official account and quarterback Jayden Daniels.