Wide receiver Jauan Jennings was expected to draw multiple suitors in free agency after his first two seasons as a starting wideout for the 49ers.
San Francisco engaged in contract talks with Jennings after the season, but the two sides could not agree on terms before he hit the open market.
Surprisingly, the five-year veteran has received little interest since free agency began, despite racking up 1,618 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns on 132 catches in the last two years. He has also filled multiple roles in one of the most popular offensive schemes in the league – including time cutting his teeth as a run-blocker – and has relationships with the 49ers’ former coaches who have now taken head coach or coordinator jobs with other teams.
But if Jennings is aiming for a starting-level receiver money around $15MM per year, he may need to recalibrate his expectations for his new contract.
Re-upping in San Francisco may no longer be an option, either, per The Athletic’s Vic Tafur. The sight of Mike Evans in a 49ers uniform will take some getting used do, but he more than replaces Jennings’ physical presence and production in the receiver room. His three-year, $42.5MM deal ate up a significant portion of the team’s offseason budget, making it difficult for them to offer Jennings a competitive salary now.
Perhaps the 49ers’ impending split with Brandon Aiyuk will open a path for Jennings to remain with the club that drafted him in 2020. His familiarity with Shanahan’s scheme and ability to operate out wide or from the slot makes him an easy plug-and-play option if the team does not fill out their wide receiver depth in the coming months.
May have to take a one year prove it deal at this point
Yeah, I think that brash confidence that makes him such an enjoyable player to watch and helps him so much on the field is hurting his self valuation for free agency.
I’m hoping that cutting Aiyuk might give them enough to offer JJ another contract. I remember reading the dead money/cap savings numbers, but don’t remember now what they were. To see Mike Evans, Ricky Pearsall, JJ, Kittle, CMC, etc. on the field together would be awesome. Just hoping the injury bug for this group plays nice next year; the 9ers have been bitten pretty hard by it in recent years.
Should come to the Titans, who need toughness and blocking at the position. Ridley will get hurt again, unless the Titans are eyeing a physical talent in the draft.
Surprisingly to everyone but niners fans lol. Psyched that lynch didnt hand this guy a 50 million dollar bag
He probably could have gotten a 3/45 deal from the Niners. He overestimated his market.