The San Francisco 49ers are expected to move on from Brandon Aiyuk this offseason. That’s not the only wide receiver the team could lose by the time the NFL Draft rolls around.
For the first time since entering the league in 2020, Jauan Jennings could be wearing a different uniform. Now that the 49ers’ season has officially ended, Jennings is an unrestricted free agent.
When pressed with questions about his future, like whether he’d be OK if the 49ers placed a franchise tag on him, Jennings said he’d defer
to his agent. Jennings reflected on his time in the Bay Area:
“There’s nothing like Santa Clara. When I first moved here, I thought I was going to San Francisco, just like everybody else. You find out fast that it’s Santa Clara. Now it’s home. It quickly turned into home. It’s a run I’ll never forget, for sure.”
You can watch the video and see Jennings get choked up toward the end.
Jennings had a contract dispute last offseason. An injury during training camp had many wondering how badly Jennings was hurt and whether his absence was more contract-related. Ultimately, Jennings received an incentive bump.
Jennings rewarded the team by playing through multiple injuries and ranking second in receiving yards. Jennings finished 17th in the NFL in receiving yards on third down and ninth in first-down receptions on third down. His production on third down is a valuable skill.
Kyle Shanahan had high praise for Jennings and his competitive spirit last week. You can tell how much Shanahan appreciated Jennings, the player. That can be true, and it would be best for both parties to turn the page.
The market will determine whether Jennings plays another snap for the 49ers. Jennings turns 29 this offseason. Realistically, this will be his final chance to cash in on a lucrative deal, relatively speaking, at this stage in his career.
The franchise tag for a wide receiver is over $28 million in 2026. Wide receivers slated to make more than that next year:
Ja’Marr Chase
Justin Jefferson
CeeDee Lamb
D.K. Metcalf
Garrett Wilson
A.J. Brown
Amon-Ra St. Brown
Tyreek Hill
Aiyuk
Terry McLaurin
Tee Higgins
Jaylen Waddle
If the 49ers felt like Jennings was one of the very best receivers in the NFL, he would have been offered a contract greater than $15.39 million after the Super Bowl in 2023. The 49ers also would’ve never considered an RFA tender, nor would his 2025 deal been centered around roster incentives.
Spotrac believes Jennings will have a robust market, projecting his annual salary at $22.6 million this offseason. They believe Jennings will earn a 3-year, $67.8 million contract. If you’re Jennings, there’s no way you turn that down. A team like the Tennessee Titans, with $93.5 million in cap space, Robert Saleh as their head coach, and a quarterback on a rookie deal, can afford to dish out free agent contracts like that.
If that valuation of Jennings is anywhere close to accurate, then we’ve likely seen the last of Jennings as a 49er.
