Wide receiver Jauan Jennings seemed to be the kind of player who’d likely have a new contract announced right at the beginning of the negotiating window for pending free agents.
A week after the window opened, however, Jennings remains unsigned.
It’s somewhat perplexing, given the kind of role Jennings had with the San Francisco 49ers over the last few seasons, emerging from a valued third-down weapon and blocking specialist into one of the bigger go-to names on head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense, especially in 2024 when he logged a career-best 975 receiving yards.
At first, it seemed as if the Niners wanted to bring Jennings back this offseason, and general manager John Lynch even indicated as much during his end-of-year presser last January.
But, in light of inking future Hall of Famer Mike Evans, it seems as if San Francisco’s remaining moves at the position are going to be more of the supplementary and/or developmental variety.
Not reuniting with a tertiary receiver who’d be slated behind Evans and third-year pro Ricky Pearsall on the depth chart.
From the 49ers’ perspective, it makes sense. From Jennings’ standpoint, though, it has to be humbling.
Lack of interest in Jauan Jennings vindicates 49ers’ inaction
Perhaps the Niners were wise not to rush into a would-be deal with Jennings for fear of him being grabbed off the free-agent list at the soonest possible moment. According to Spotrac, the receiver’s market value for 2026 is at $22.6 million per year.
In contrast, Evans’ average annual value on his three-year deal with San Francisco is just over $14 million.
Granted, Jennings will eventually sign this offseason. CBS Sports recently listed head coach Robert Saleh’s Tennessee Titans as a best-fit destination, and they certainly would love to add some quality go-to targets for quarterback Cam Ward.
Yet it’s possible the Titans (and 30 other teams, for that matter) are now pivoting to April’s NFL Draft to see what options present themselves there before committing big bucks to a receiver like Jennings.
That has to be humbling for Jennings, though. His market hasn’t blossomed as he likely thought it would.
