Vikings To Sign WR Jauan Jennings
One of the top remaining free agents has finally found a new home. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that wide receiver Jauan Jennings has reached an agreement with the Vikings.
Schefter adds that it’s a one-year deal worth up to $13MM. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero clarifies that the receiver will earn an $8MM base salary. Jennings met with the franchise last month.
While the player‘s price point was believed to be misaligned with his value, it was eventually understood that he’d settle for a modest deal once the compensatory pick formula was no longer in effect. Indeed, he garnered his first visit of the offseason days after the draft, when he met with the Vikings. It took an additional week, but the WR finally completed a deal with Minnesota.
PFR’s No. 18-ranked free agent, Jennings market never emerged as many expected. The 49ers were initially interested in re-signing the veteran, but his potential return took a major hit when the organization pivoted to the likes of Mike Evans, Christian Kirk, and second-rounder De’Zhaun Stribling. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald adds that the Dolphins were also interested in Jennings’ services, but the front office “couldn’t compete financially” considering their cap situation.
During his time in San Francisco, Jennings worked his way up from a seventh-round pick to one of the team’s most dependable wideouts. As the organization navigated a number of injuries at WR in 2024, Jennings had a breakout season, hauling in 77 catches for 975 yards and six touchdowns. He requested a trade after that showing when he couldn’t agree to an extension with the 49ers. The franchise opted to keep him via a restructured deal.
With Deebo Samuel out the door and Brandon Aiyuk sidelined with an injury, there was hope that Jennings could carry his momentum into the 2025 campaign. Even with Aiyuk sitting out the entire year and Ricky Pearsall missing nearly half the season, Jennings struggled to match his 2024 numbers. While he hauled in a career-high nine touchdowns, he saw his yards-per-game (42.9), yards-per-target (7.1), and catch percentage (61.1) drop. He also didn’t do much in the playoffs, when he tallied three catches for 68 yards in two games.
Jennings’ stint as a WR1 will surely come to an end in Minnesota. Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison will continue to lead the depth chart, but Jennings should still be able to carve out his own role in 2026. Jalen Nailor was productive as the team’s WR3 last year, finishing with 29 catches for 444 yards and four touchdowns, a performance he parlayed into a three-year, $35MM deal with the Raiders.
Vikings To Meet With WR Jauan Jennings
Another wave of free agency is set up to commence. Teams’ signings of unrestricted FAs no longer count toward the 2027 compensatory formula, a transition that annually reignites the market. One high-profile free agent is seeing interest reemerge as a result.
Jauan Jennings‘ price point was believed to be misaligned with his value, but the recent 49ers wide receiver contributor entered free agency as one of the top pass catchers available. Nearly two months after hitting the market, Jennings will make a visit. The Vikings are set to meet with him over the next two days, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets.
PFR’s No. 18-ranked free agent, Jennings is the only member of our top 45 FAs unsigned (Joey Bosa — No. 46 — is the other top-50 player yet to join a team). The 49ers were interested in re-signing Jennings, but he is no longer in play for the team. San Francisco has since added Mike Evans, Christian Kirk and second-rounder De’Zhaun Stribling to its receiver room, one that still includes 2024 first-round pick Ricky Pearsall.
With Pearsall battling injuries again in 2025 and Brandon Aiyuk missing the full season due to his 2024 ACL tear (and dispute with the team), Jennings became a key 49ers playmaker over the past two seasons.
He filled in well for Aiyuk in 2024, accumulating 975 receiving yards. Last year, Jennings added 643 yards and a career-high nine touchdowns. These numbers were out of step with his two-year, $11.89MM deal. The former seventh-round pick pursued a raise during the 2025 offseason but settled for a late-summer incentive package.
A quality blocker who has moonlighted as a gadget quarterback (two postseason TD passes), Jennings is running out of time to cash in on his recent 49ers contributions. The Tennessee alum will turn 29 this summer, making this an important offseason on the contract front. But it is clear teams did not view the Kyle Shanahan charge as an impact free agent; potential offers have not satisfied Jennings. It is possible the 212-pound receiver will need to accept a one-year “prove it” deal. That will come with risk considering the 2027 offseason will bring Jennings’ 30th birthday.
On the surface, the Vikings do not look like the best option for Jennings to generate 2027 FA attention. Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison reside as the team’s locked-in top receiving tandem, and Minnesota used a 2025 third-round pick on Tai Felton. The team did not draft a receiver this year, however, and lost WR3 Jalen Nailor to a three-year, $35MM Raiders contract.
Coming from the Shanahan offense would stand to help Jennings acclimate to Kevin O’Connell‘s Minnesota attack, but it would not surprise to see the seventh-year veteran take more visits to determine the best fit. If a “prove it” deal is in the cards, Jennings will need to choose carefully since next year might be the point of no return with regards to the possibility of a lucrative free agency deal happening for him.
Jauan Jennings’ Asking Price Too High
On the heels of back-to-back productive seasons with the 49ers, expectations were that wide receiver Jauan Jennings would do well in free agency this year. However, three weeks since the market opened, Jennings is still without a contract. The reason? The 28-year-old’s asking price is too rich, league officials told Matt Barrows and Vic Tafur of The Athletic.
A 2020 seventh-round pick from Tennessee, Jennings debuted a year later and went on to post modest numbers over the next three seasons. The 6-foot-3, 212-pounder caught a touchdown and threw for one in the 49ers’ loss to the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII, though, and he carried that momentum into 2024. After entering the campaign with 72 catches, 963 yards and seven TDs in 45 career games, Jennings notched 77 receptions, 975 yards and six scores in a 15-game breakout showing.
Riding the wave of a career year, Jennings sought an extension or a trade heading into last season. Neither came to fruition, though the 49ers added $3MM in incentives to his contract in early September. Jennings and the 49ers likely expected similar or better numbers, especially after the team traded away fellow receiver Deebo Samuel and went without the injured/MIA Brandon Aiyuk. While Jennings grabbed a career-best nine TDs, he fell to 55 receptions and 643 yards during a 15-game season in which he battled rib and ankle injuries.
Since free agency opened, receivers Jalen Nailor, Mike Evans, Rashid Shaheed, Romeo Doubs, Wan’Dale Robinson and Alec Pierce have signed contracts ranging from $35MM in total value to $114MM. Anything on the higher end of that range was never realistic for Jennings, but coming into the offseason, he seemed likely to end up somewhere in that group. While that is still possible, it will be a challenge at this stage of free agency. Unsigned wideouts like Jennings, Samuel, Keenan Allen, Stefon Diggs, Tyreek Hill and DeAndre Hopkins might not have answers on their futures until after the draft.
Having added Evans and Christian Kirk to their receiving corps in free agency, it appears unlikely the 49ers will bring Jennings back in 2026. Notably, though, general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan are still fond of him.
“Jauan’s one of my favorite players and one of Kyle’s favorite players,” Lynch said last Sunday (via Barrows and Tafur). “He’ll find a good home. And I think Jauan will go play great football for someone.”
49ers Not Expected To Re-Sign WR Jauan Jennings
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.
49ers Holding Out Hope For Brandon Aiyuk Trade, In Talks With Jauan Jennings
Brandon Aiyuk will not be a 49er in 2026. John Lynch confirmed that last month. For now, though, the former All-Pro wide receiver remains on San Francisco’s roster and will be part of it for a bit longer.
Lynch said from the Combine that Aiyuk will remain with the team until the start of the league year (March 11), indicating (via The Athletic’s Matt Barrows) a trade will be sought. The Combine serves as an annual venue to gauge trade interest, and Lynch plans to do so with Aiyuk.
Although the 49ers’ options are limited here, they could hope for late-round compensation — perhaps from a team not confident in luring the seventh-year veteran in free agency. The 49ers worked with Aiyuk during his 2024 trade saga, and he had multiple destinations — Cleveland, New England — he preferred to avoid then. It does not seem like the team would do the disgruntled wideout any favors, though a team trading for Aiyuk’s contract would need assurances he would be content with such a move — especially after the events of the past year.
The 49ers voided Aiyuk’s guarantees last July, representing rarely traversed terrain for a player who did not incur a suspension. Issues with Aiyuk’s rehab effort triggered that decision, and Kyle Shanahan said he was unable to reach the 27-year-old pass catcher after a certain point. That led to his placement on the reserve/left squad list.
Due to bonus proration, an Aiyuk trade would cost the 49ers $29.59MM in dead money. They were tagged with a receiver-record $34.12MM in dead cap from the Deebo Samuel trade. With the 49ers only receiving a fifth-round pick for Samuel, the upcoming Aiyuk trade/release will mark a disappointing ending for the team with its long-running wideout tandem.
It would seem the 49ers will need to release Aiyuk, who has missed 1 1/2 seasons due to an ACL tear suffered in October 2024. Aiyuk did not suffer a clean tear, and his strange 2025 course creates questions for teams as well. After being rather deep at receiver for a while, the 49ers were low on bodies there in 2025. They have more questions to answer as free agency nears.
Jauan Jennings is unsigned after receiving only an incentive package last year. The 28-year-old pass catcher has overachieved as a former seventh-round pick, and this offseason represents his window to cash in. After expressing interest in re-signing Jennings, Lynch said the team has spoken with the free agent-to-be. Though, the 49ers will gauge his market at the Combine. Their exclusive negotiating window expires March 9 when the legal tampering period begins.
After a 975-yard 2024 season, Jennings produced 643 yards — to go with a career-high nine touchdown receptions — last season. With Aiyuk shelved and Ricky Pearsall regularly unavailable, the 49ers relied on Jennings. After signing his two-year, $11.89MM extension when he was the team’s WR3 alongside Aiyuk and Samuel, he could return as San Francisco’s top wideout. Though, the 49ers will certainly be looking at outside help at this position.
Wide receiver is not the only place housing priority free agents. Kicker Eddy Pineiro is also unsigned. While the kicker/punter tag is the cheapest available, Lynch said (via The Athletic’s Vic Tafur) the in-season signee will not be tagged.
The 49ers are interested in re-signing Pineiro, who became the team’s Jake Moody replacement. Pineiro, 30, made 28 of 29 field goals in his 14-game San Francisco season. He led the NFL in make rate. OverTheCap projects the kicker/punter tag to come in around $7MM. The 49ers will look to re-sign Pineiro at a lower rate.
Brandon Aiyuk Trade Viewed As Possible; Latest On 49ers’ WR Outlook
Before the start of the current season, the 49ers voided a 2026 option bonus for Brandon Aiyuk. That has fueled speculation a parting of ways will take place after the current campaign. 
Further details have emerged regarding the team’s decision to void Aiyuk’s guarantees. As ESPN’s Fowler writes, the sixth-year receiver declined to attend appointments for his knee rehab during the offseason. That is believed to be among the reasons San Francisco proceeded with voiding Aiyuk’s guarantees, a move he chose not to contest by means of an NFLPA grievance.
Aiyuk’s 2024 campaign ended when he suffered ACL, MCL and meniscus tears. He has yet to play since, despite a number of updates before and during this season pointing to him being cleared at some point. There is still optimism the 27-year-old will be cleared, although that would in turn lead to an interesting question of whether or not Aiyuk would be willing to play given where things stand at this point.
Fowler adds that some teams around the league see an Aiyuk trade as being possible, especially with his contract being easier to move in the absence of guaranteed compensation for next season. The former first-rounder’s deal still runs through 2028, however, so a release allowing him to choose his next destination is still a more realistic outcome. That would leave Aiyuk in the same situation as Christian Wilkins, after the Raiders voided his guarantees and moved forward with a release.
Aiyuk topped 1,000 yards for the first time in 2022. The following season, he set a career high in yards (1,342) and yards per catch (17.9), helping lead the 49ers to the Super Bowl along the way. The process of working out an extension was far from smooth, to say the least, and even with a long-term deal in hand Aiyuk’s future is once again a talking point.
Elsewhere at the receiver position, Matt Barrows of the Athletic writes (subscription required) the 49ers are likelier to retain Kendrick Bourne this offseason than Jauan Jennings. The latter was in the team’s long-term plans as of September, but as a pending free agent he could depart on the open market this spring. Jennings landed a two-year pact in 2024, the season in which he comfortably posted career-best numbers. Things have not been the same in 2025 for the former seventh-rounder.
Bourne’s second San Francisco stint has seen him make seven starts with the team dealing with several injuries. He has posted 482 scoreless yards while serving as an experienced secondary option in the passing game. Retaining Bourne, 30, will likely come at a lesser cost than re-signing Jennings once more. Of course, Aiyuk will play a large role in determining how the team operates at the WR spot once his situation becomes clearer.
Panthers S Tre’von Moehrig Receives One-Game Suspension
NOVEMBER 26: Per NFL senior vice president of football & international communications Michael Signora, Moehrig’s one-game suspension has been upheld on appeal. Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Brooks was the hearing officer jointly appointed by the NFL and NFLPA.
NOVEMBER 25: The NFL has suspended Panthers safety Tre’von Moehrig for one game without pay as a result of his actions in a loss to the 49ers on Monday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. Moehrig was caught on video punching 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings below the belt.
According to a league statement (via David Newton of ESPN), Moehrig’s punch violated “Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1, which applies to “any act which is contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship,” including, among others, “throwing a punch, or a forearm, or kicking at an opponent.”’
Moehrig will appeal the suspension, per Adam Schefter of ESPN. If the league upholds the ban, he’ll miss the Panthers’ game against the Rams on Sunday.
Jennings will not sit out any games, meanwhile, though the league is reviewing his actions for a possible fine, Pelissero relays. He struck Moehrig’s facemask with an open hand and shoved him in retaliation before the two were separated following the game.
Moehrig admitted afterward that he would “most likely” receive a fine (via David Kaye of the Charlotte Observer). However, he claimed Jennings provoked the attack with trash talking and “dirty stuff” after plays.
The Panthers fell to 6-6 on Monday. Their playoff hopes are hanging by a thread heading into a meeting with the 9-2 Rams, the NFC’s top seed. Going without Moehrig would make it all the more difficult for Carolina to pull an upset.
After Moehrig spent the first four years of his career with the Raiders, he joined the Panthers on a three-year, $51MM contract last March. Moehrig has started in all 12 of the Panthers’ games this season while notching 81 tackles, an interception, and a sack. He’s tied with fellow Panthers safety Nick Scott for the team lead in defensive snaps. Fourth-round rookie Lathan Ransom and Demani Richardson are on hand as depth options if Moehrig misses Week 13.
Trade Rumors: Dolphins, Jennings, Sweat, Patriots, Chargers, Bills
We’ve seen a bit of a change of trade deadline strategy in Miami since the departure of former general manager Chris Grier. With Grier, the Dolphins were not planning on being very active at the trade deadline. There was some thought that interim GM Champ Kelly would be a bit more open to hearing offers, and after some initial refusal of that notion, the team has changed its tune.
We’ve seen this a bit in rumors, as edge rushers Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb, and Matt Judon have been the subject of some calls, and the Dolphins have even seemed more open to the idea of trading wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. According to Armando Salguero of OutKick, team owner Stephen Ross “approved of” — and even encouraged — Kelly selling off valuable players, if he could.
Additionally, per Salguero, Ross informed head coach Mike McDaniel that his job was safe for the season and would continue to be safe “if he can rally the team.” It’s anyone’s guess how McDaniel is expected to improve the team’s performance as the front office auctions off its best players, but that appears to be the challenge posed to the fourth-year head coach. This challenge puts particular stress on McDaniel’s handling of the quarterback position moving forward, following rumors that Tua Tagovailoa could face a demotion from his starting role.
Here are a few other rumors as we have under 48 hours remaining until the trade deadline:
- 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings has worked his way up from the practice squad in his rookie season to a full-time starting role in his fifth year with the team. Jennings sought an extension in the offseason, and he threatened a trade request in order to gain leverage in negotiations. Some teams reportedly called at the time, but with so many injuries at the position already, San Francisco rebuffed them. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, those same teams appear to be interested again. Head coach Kyle Shanahan has claimed he “would be very surprised” if Jennings gets dealt, mostly because they’ve yet to see the return from injury this year of Brandon Aiyuk. Rapoport suggests that, aside from that, Jennings wouldn’t be off the table.
- We’ve already reported that the Titans appear to be open for business in the trade market with every player except rookie No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward and starting defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. Any other player is seemingly available. Some have been surprised that this apparently includes last year’s second-round defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat, but Terry McCormick of TitansInsider.com sees the reasoning. Per McCormick, the team has “not been enamored with him” so far. If someone with interest in the 24-year-old out of Texas comes with the right price, it sounds like Tennessee would be willing to part with him.
- With Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson dealing with his recent toe injury, and with New England’s rushers underwhelming so far this year overall, rumors have made the rounds that the team could be looking at the position in the trade market. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels attempted to silence those rumors, per Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald, telling the media, “I think we have all the answers we need.” With Stevenson out today, the Patriots leaned on rookie second-round pick TreVeyon Henderson and RB3 Terrell Jennings against Atlanta. They also recently signed veteran D’Ernest Johnson to the practice squad and called him up for the game. Despite no single back averaging more than 35 rushing yards per game this season, McDaniels is apparently comfortable with his stable.
- On Saturday, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported that the Chargers were “exploring potential offensive line additions” on the trade market. If they weren’t before, they sure are now. Already dealing with a season-ending injury to left tackle Rashawn Slater and injuries this week to right guard Mekhi Becton and backup tackle Austin Deculus, Los Angeles saw its other original starter Joe Alt and replacement starter Bobby Hart exit today’s game with injuries. Down to their third options at both tackle spots, the Chargers may need to get active if they plan on continuing their push for the playoffs.
- In regard to the Bills‘ pursuit of wide receiver help through the trade market, while a specific name to add hasn’t yet emerged, another name seemingly has. According to Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic, if Buffalo makes an addition via trade and a corresponding move is needed to fit them on the 53-man roster, depth cornerback Brandon Codrington would be the likeliest cut candidate.
49ers WR Jauan Jennings Playing With Broken Ribs
There was a bit of a scuffle on the 49ers’ sideline in today’s loss to the Buccaneers. Wide receiver Jauan Jennings was seen arguing with head coach Kyle Shanahan, and when asked about it, Jennings directed the media to his head coach for any information. According to Vic Tafur of The Athletic, Jennings also added that he has been playing with five broken ribs.
Seeing how injured the 49ers roster is at this moment, it’s no wonder Jennings is pushing through. The team’s reserve/non-football injury list and reserve/physically unable to perform list still each hold a player, 11 players are currently on injured reserve, and 16 more appear on the injury report. Those numbers don’t even include the loss of four-time first-team All-Pro Fred Warner, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury today. With the roster so thin throughout, any players dealing with injuries that can be played through are likely being asked to play through those injuries.
Playing through broken ribs is nothing uncommon. Multiple quarterbacks renowned for their toughness — Steve McNair, Drew Brees, Matthew Stafford, Ben Roethlisberger — reportedly played through rib injuries. Last year, it was reported that Saints running back Alvin Kamara played through a rib injury, as well. That certainly doesn’t mean it’s a pleasant or easy thing to do, though.
Whether or not the source of the animosity on the sideline stemmed from Jennings’ ribs is unknown, but the veteran receiver was clearly dealing with frustrations on and off the field today. Until his teammates start disappearing from injury reports and injured lists, Jennings will likely continue to work through those frustrations.
John Lynch: 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk ‘Not Close’ To Return
49ers general manager John Lynch said that wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is “not close” to returning to the field from last year’s devastating knee injury.
“There’s no absolutes on these things,” said Lynch on Wednesday (via KNBR). “He’s gotta continue to hit markers. He’s tracking well, we’ll be a better team when Brandon’s out there.”
Aiyuk tore his ACL and MCL in Week 7 last year, setting him up for a lengthy recovery process that will extend well into this season. In August, Lynch said that there was no timetable for Aiyuk’s return, while head coach Kyle Shanahan suggested that the veteran wideout could return around Week 6.
Aiyuk started the season on the physically unable to perform list, making him ineligible to practice until next week. He would then have three weeks to be activated to the 53-man roster or revert to season-ending injured reserve, a situation the 49ers will want to avoid. Lynch’s comments further indicate that Aiyuk won’t be back anytime soon, though the veteran receiver was seen working out during a practice last week, per CBS Sports’ Matt Lively.
As a result, San Francisco will continue to work with a thin receiving corps until Aiyuk’s return, as the team has dealt with injuries to Jauan Jennings (ankle, shoulder) and Ricky Pearsall (knee) this year as well. Rookie Jordan Watkins is dealing with a calf injury, but has avoided injured reserve for the time being despite some early prognostications of an extended absence. All three wideouts were absent on Wednesday, though Pearsall said (via KNBR) that he would play “if there was a game today.” Jennings missed every practice last week and didn’t play on Sunday, though the 49ers will certainly be hoping he’s ready to go for Week 4.
Pearsall has impressed amid his teammates’ absences this year, racking up 281 yards in 16 catches through three games. Jennings has 105 yards in his two starts, while Kendrick Bourne has added 70 yards in the last two games. If their WR health issues continue, the 49ers will need Skyy Moore and Marquez Valdes-Scantling to step up for their next few games.