The San Francisco 49ers could make sense as a potential landing spot for wide receiver Jauan Jennings before the NFL trade deadline, according to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport.
Speaking on The Pat McAfee Show, Rapoport suggested Jennings’ name could gain traction in the coming days and weeks, pointing to San Francisco’s recent injury troubles at wide receiver.
“I expect his name to heat up a little bit over the next, probably, couple days and weeks,” Rapoport said. “Obviously, the 49ers lost Deebo Samuel for a couple weeks, too, so that would make sense.”
Samuel is expected to miss time with a hamstring injury, creating another challenge for a San Francisco receiving corps that has dealt with injuries throughout the season. A potential reunion
with Jennings would give the 49ers a familiar option who already understands Kyle Shanahan’s offensive system and has experience playing alongside quarterback Brock Purdy.
Jennings spent the first five seasons of his NFL career with San Francisco after the 49ers selected him in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL draft out of Tennessee. He developed from a depth receiver into a key contributor, posting career highs with 77 receptions for 975 yards and six touchdowns in 2024. He followed that up with 55 catches for 643 yards and nine touchdowns in 2025, starting all 15 games he played.
However, Jennings’ future in San Francisco became uncertain during the 2025 offseason amid a contract dispute. Speculation persisted that he would leave in free agency the following summer, and Jennings ultimately signed a one-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings this offseason.
His production has been limited in Minnesota. Through four games in 2026, Jennings has recorded just two receptions for nine yards on five targets, with no touchdowns.
A return to San Francisco could offer Jennings an opportunity to reestablish himself in a familiar offense while giving the 49ers another experienced receiver as they navigate their latest injury setback. It's hard to say what it would cost, but the 49ers have been known to bring back familiar faces when it makes sense. They traded Samuel away in 2025 before bringing him back in 2026, and Dre Greenlaw returned on a one-year deal after he was released following his one-year stint with the Denver Broncos.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Insider believes 49ers trade for familiar WR ‘makes sense’
