The Indianapolis Colts still arguably need an outside WR2 upgrade, and one noticeable name still remains unsigned, San Francisco 49ers free agent wideout Jauan Jennings.
The 28-year-old wide receiver recently visited the Minnesota Vikings, and while no deal was reached, it seems like only a matter of time before the veteran wideout finds a new NFL home this offseason.
The former 2020 7th round pick is coming off a 2025 season for 49ers offense in which he recorded 55 receptions for 643 total receiving
yards (11.7 yards per reception average) and 9 touchdown receptions during 15 games.
Because of financial constraints (especially after re-signing lead wide receiver Alec Pierce to a historic deal), the Colts were compelled to trade big bodied possession wideout Michael Pittman Jr. to the Green Bay Packers earlier this offseason for ample salary cap savings.
At a listed 6,’3”, 212 pounds, Jennings could help replace some of that lost size, strength, muscle, and possession target ability along the outside. He would be a clear upgrade to any of the Colts internal options, which currently includes fellow veteran Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Ashton Dulin, and even rookie Deion Burks.
No disrespect to any of those aforementioned wideouts, but all seem ideally suited to be a WR4 on a serious playoff team—especially since Burks is just a 7th round rookie.
Not to mention, for a Colts team that wants to clearly power run the football and manhandle their opponent up front, Pittman Jr. was oftentimes a very physical run blocker along the outside for star workhorse Jonathan Taylor and will be sorely missed in that regard—along with all the other little things he did to help the team.
Jennings has always been highly regarded as a willing and tenacious run blocker too. In fact, 49ers offensive minded head coach Kyle Shanahan once called him “probably the most intense run-blocking receiver he’s ever coached.”
Yes, outside of Pierce, the Colts still have tight end Tyler Warren and slot wideout Josh Downs as part of their receiving corps, but having ‘just-a-guy’ at WR2, it sort of negates the advantage they have elsewhere in my honest opinion because opposing defenses can then pay more attention (i.e. roll coverage) to those other playmakers instead. It’s about keeping opposing defenses honest.
The Colts are still armed with $26.7 million of projected available team salary cap space, and right now, with their top football lieutenants firmly on the hot seat, in what’s shaping up to be a ‘make-or-break’ year in Indianapolis, it’s a fair question of what exactly they’re planning on doing with it going forward.
