Jauan Jennings has developed into a key figure in the 49ers’ passing attack during his tenure with the team. The veteran wideout is dissatisfied with his current arrangement in San Francisco, however. 
Jennings is seeking either a 49ers extension or a trade to a new team, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Team and player worked out a two-year deal last spring which took the place of his second-round RFA tender. As a result, Jennings is currently a pending 2026 free agent.
The 28-year-old is scheduled to collect $3.28MM in salary guarantees in 2025 as things stand. Jennings is also on track to receive an option bonus of $1.12MM on September 1. A resolution to this situation will presumably take place prior to that date.
Selected in the seventh round of the 2020 draft, Jennings did not see any playing time as a rookie. Over the following three years, he operated as a complementary option in the passing game behind Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel on the depth chart. In the wake of signing his pact last offseason, Jennings took on an increased role. Aiyuk’s ACL tear opened the door to more targets for the Tennessee product, and he posted career highs across the board (77 catches, 975 yards, six touchdowns).
Samuel has since been traded, and Aiyuk is on course to miss at least some time to begin the 2025 campaign. Jennings is thus in position to once again serve as a central figure on offense, and his success in that capacity last year is driving efforts to land another new pact (and an accompanying raise, no doubt). Schefter adds Jennings plans to request a trade if no extension is worked out ahead of next week’s training camp.
That leaves a small window of opportunity for both parties to come to an agreement, although Schefter notes progress has been limited so far with respect to contract talks. Jennings is not expected to engage in a training camp holdout in any case, as remaining absent from the team would lead to mandatory fines. It would come as no surprise if Jennings opted for a hold-in and thus avoided participation in any on-field work, though.
The 49ers are certainly no stranger to contract drama, especially at the receiver spot. Samuel previously requested a trade before ultimately working out an extension. Aiyuk was the subject of a long-running saga last summer as he agreed to the terms of a Steelers contract but wound up remaining in San Francisco on a big-ticket deal. Jennings does not have the profile of those two based on his statistics to date, but he too is angling for a new commitment or a fresh start if one does not materialize.
Incentives incentives incentives…
With the chemistry Jennings and Purdy displayed last year, and now Purdy locked up for the next few years, it makes sense to meet in the middle. Jennings isn’t a known quantity outside of the San Fran organization, so it would be prudent for both team and player to compromise. Many factors work against Jennings ability to secure a significant extension for another franchise, being that it took two injuries and a rookie being shot in the chest for him to see the field. That and he’s only produced when his college QB is under center.
That being said, securing his current extension as a 4th WR means that the team liked his makeup enough to want him as depth at a premium price. He won’t get top market money, but biding your time for 3 years and then breaking out in year 4, probably represents his one true opportunity to secure a significant salary. Very understandable position from Jennings, but if he’s being realistic with himself, he probably will secure more money long term over the course of his career by playing as a starter for 2 or 3 more years in SF and then hitting the market once again after sustained production. Obviously he also needs to stay healthy.
Something like the Josh Palmer deal would make sense – 3/36
Let me guess….he wants top 15 WR money but has yet to put up 1000 yards in a season.
I’m guessing it’s more like a repeat of the Rashod Bateman situation. Both of them got similar two year deals last offseason. Both of them had career best seasons. Bateman got three years $36 million. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Jennings follow a similar path. I can’t imagine he expects to get bumped up to $23 million a year.
It’s the 49ers…….wouldn’t be an offseason without WR drama. His timing is impeccable.
One. Year. Contracts.
Stupid idea.
Yea, you’re right. It would eliminate all these articles. Writers gotta write.
Jennings is a lot like Pierre Garcon in that his reliability makes him a weapon and higher tier receiver than he might otherwise be.
He’s worth the money and deserves it. They call him Third and JaJuan for a reason.
Love Pierre Garcon.
Jennings’ issue, which isn’t fair, is that he’s 28. He deserves a contract extension, but given that they’ll be paying partially for potential (as Druuu pointed out, Jennings has yet to be a featured receiver) at age 28, chances aren’t good that gets a featured contract. Jennings could, however, get a solid WR2 type deal for, say, a three year period.
Oof’s Bateman contract comparison may be accurate here. Jennings definitely has earned an extension, and I think that he’s probably realistic enough to know that it won’t be top of the market, but he’s also 28. That’s probably what’s behind the trade request-not too much time left for a receiver nearing 30 to get a good payday.
While I agree with most of what you’re saying, I think his reliability is something that makes him more valuable as he gets older rather than less.
He’s 28 but that means you’ll get at least five years if not more of one of the most reliable WRs in the game before he drops off, if he even does. Garcon played a long time for this exact reason. Everybody needs reliable WRs.
You’re correct about that. Garçon demonstrated that in Washington, much in the same way that Anquan Boldin did in his later career.
They call him that because it’s catchy. Just like 3rd and Renfrow. Doesn’t mean he can’t play out his contract.
He is the #1 wr with Deebo gone and Aiyuk injured. Purdy trust him a lot too, he is worth $10-13m for next 2 seasons. They should work out extension.
Tack on a year, give him a signing bonus and punt contract extension talks down the road.
By down the road you mean until next season, because that’s how all of these work out every year.